Bill Wall, left, project director for LS Cable America; Captain Paul Eidman of Anglers for Offshore Wind Power; Joseph Brodie, director of atmospherics at the Rutgers Center for Ocean Observation Leadership; and Catherine Bowes, program director for offshore wind energy for the National Wildlife Federation, discuss the environmental pros and cons of building wind farms off New Jersey during the third annual Time for Turbines conference on Friday at Stockton University’s Atlantic City campus.  Click to read more:

Peggy Brennan-Tonetta, Ph.D | Rutgers University Dubbed the “United States’ Hottest Clean Energy Economy” by Forbes, New Jersey is poised to become a national leader in mitigating the impacts of climate change through ambitious clean energy and energy storage targets. In pursuing its goal to rely entirely on renewable energy by 2050, the State is aligning its interests with those of industry. Nearly three quarters of large companies headquartered in the U.S. are planning to make additional renewable energy purchases. Companies including 3M, Johnson & Johnson, Novo Nordisk, Firmenich, Mars, Grupo Bimbo, and Ricoh – all companies that have a presence in New Jersey – have committed to 100% renewable energy. Click To read more…

Congratulations to Josh Kohut who has been promoted to Full Professor. He was recognized for his efforts on translating science-based research in a way that informs applications, decision-making, and management of ocean resources. Beyond his research and extension work, Josh has established a highly effective graduate and undergraduate teaching program with a specific focus on developing hands-on learning opportunities for the students. Josh’s scholarship is focused on how highly variable physical processes in the ocean structure coastal biology and chemistry. Josh deployed the world’s first integrated High Frequency (HF) Radar network capable of continuously measuring ocean circulation along the northeast United States. This network is now the world’s largest nested HF network and has provided fundamental insights in the circulation of the continental shelves, the ocean transport of pollution, river inputs, distribution of fish larvae, and has reduced Coast Guard search by 70% during rescue missions. The radars have provided invaluable insights into the physical oceanography during extreme weather (Nor’Easters and Hurricanes) and the physical factors that regulate storm intensity at landfall. Weather forecasters had made little progress in improving storm intensity forecasts in decades, but Josh helped discover critical previously underappreciated coastal circulation processes that influence the storm intensity at landfall. These insights are spurring a re-examination of the ocean models at the National Weather Service. Josh also been a leader in been a leader in the use of underwater autonomous glider technology in the oceans. He and his students have documented how ocean warming in Antarctica and the associated ice melt are altering the upper ocean vertical mixing processes which are directly affecting phytoplankton growth, that in turn is influencing penguin foraging ecology. One external reviewer commented “Josh is an absolutely tremendous example of how quality scholarship can dovetail quite closely with solving societally and economically important questions.”

The 5-year collaboration will support deployment of ocean technologies and advance research and monitoring to support offshore wind development NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J.: Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind, LLC (Atlantic Shores) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Rutgers University to advance ocean research and monitoring that will support offshore wind development. The 5-year cooperative agreement term will initiate this summer and help to bolster on-going efforts at the Rutgers Center for Ocean Observing Leadership (RUCOOL). Together Atlantic Shores and RUCOOL will focus on advancing innovative approaches to collecting and analyzing meteorological, oceanographic and marine bioacoustic data. The work will build upon efforts RUCOOL is already undertaking in partnership with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU). Data collected from both inside and outside the Atlantic Shores lease area will not only support Atlantic Shores’ strong commitment to ground its development decisions upon sound scientific research, but also contribute to the broader regional knowledge of the Mid-Atlantic marine environment. “Rutgers University is a leader in marine science research, and Atlantic Shores is committed to increasing data collection that will support the sustainability of the emerging offshore wind industry in New Jersey,” said Chris Hart, President and Managing Director of Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind. “We look forward to advancing their research efforts by collaborating early on as our Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind portfolio gets off the ground.” “Rutgers is committed to leveraging its research capabilities, working with industry and state partners, and providing the best possible science to lead the nation in responsible offshore wind development,” said S. David Kimball, PhD, Interim Senior Vice President for Research and Economic Development at Rutgers. “The Jersey coast is a prime location for offshore wind development in our state’s pursuit of achieving 100 percent clean energy by 2050. We are happy to partner with Atlantic Shores to advance Rutgers research projects related to offshore wind and be at the forefront of a new industry that can have long-term economic benefits for New Jersey.” “RUCOOL is excited to work with colleagues at Atlantic Shores to better understand the coastal ocean and atmospheric environment off the coast of New Jersey. These new studies will enhance and contribute to decades of ocean and atmospheric observations, modeling, and knowledge in the region as New Jersey works to become the world leader in offshore wind,” said Joseph F. Brodie, PhD, Director of Atmospheric Research at the Center for Ocean Observing Leadership. Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind is a 50/50 joint venture between EDF Renewables North America and Shell New Energies US, LLC with an OREC application currently under consideration by the NJBPU. The joint venture plans to build multiple projects over the next decade within their 183,000 acre lease area off the coast of New Jersey, to help the state meet its progressive goal of generating 3.5 GW of renewable energy by 2030. In total, Atlantic Shores’ lease area has the potential to generate 2.5 GW of clean wind energy, enough to power nearly one million homes. A decision on which developer will be awarded a state contract to build the first offshore wind farm in New Jersey is expected this summer. Atlantic Shores plans to move forward with data collection and research in partnership with RUCOOL regardless of the outcome of the NJBPU decision. About Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind, LLC: Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind, LLC is a 50/50 partnership between Shell New Energies US LLC and EDF Renewables North America. The joint venture formed in December 2018 to co-develop a 183,353 acre lease area located approximately 8-20 miles off the New Jersey coast between Atlantic City and Barnegat Light. Atlantic Shores is strategically positioned to meet the growing demands of renewable energy targets in New York, New Jersey and beyond, with strong and steady wind resources close to large population centers with associated electricity demand. Atlantic Shores, once fully developed, has the potential to generate 2,500 MW of clean, renewable wind energy – enough to power nearly one million homes. The capital and expertise needed to develop such a large area is significant. Together, Shell and EDF Renewables have the investment capability and industry experience to bring this project to scale safely, efficiently and cost effectively. For more info: www.atlanticshoreswind.com Article Credit: Business Wire, Yahoo Business, Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind

The European(EGO) and US(UG2) Autonomous Underwater Glider User Groups came together to host the 8th EGO Meeting and International Glider Workshop right here at Rutgers University May 21st – 23rd. Kicking off this meeting with the opening talk was Robert M. Goodman, executive dean of the Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences. The meeting offered a mix of presentations, panels, breakout groups, a poster session, and open community dialog. It also provided a forum in which scientists, engineers, students and industry can exchange knowledge and experiences on the development of glider technology, the application of gliders in oceanographic research and the role of gliders in ocean observing systems. 95% of the RUCOOL team was present at this wonderful event and we were happy to have face time with our world wide industries friends and partners. VIEW all the RUCOOL talks

New Jersey Business Magazine | Environmental Ørsted US Offshore Wind will support academic research activities related to offshore wind at Rutgers University under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed today. Under the agreement, Ørsted will make an initial contribution to the university, followed by additional funding contingent upon being granted an OREC application by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU). Ørsted submitted an application for its Ocean Wind project to the NJBPU in December 2018 to develop the first offshore wind farm in the state. The announcement for the award is expected from the NJBPU in summer 2019. “Rutgers University is a premiere institution that can provide us with ongoing research that will help propel the New Jersey offshore wind industry forward,” said Thomas Brostrøm, CEO of Ørsted U.S. Offshore Wind and president of Ørsted North America. “We are very happy to partner with them as we progress with our Ocean Wind project.” The MOU was signed through Rutgers’ Corporate Engagement Center, a joint effort between the university’s Office of Research and Economic Development and Rutgers University Foundation, and will support research conducted at the Rutgers University Center for Ocean Observing Leadership (RUCOOL). Part of the Department of Marine and Coastal Science, RUCOOL is dedicated to discovering, communicating about and providing access to the world’s ocean through interdisciplinary scientific research, education, and outreach programs. “As a coastal state, New Jersey is perfectly situated to lead in offshore wind development and to pave the way for developing more sustainable, renewable energy sources to reduce our carbon footprint. At Rutgers, we are committed to leveraging our research capabilities, working with state partners, and providing the best possible science to build offshore wind responsibly,” said S. David Kimball, PhD, Interim Senior Vice President for Research and Economic Development at Rutgers. “Partnerships like this one with Ørsted allow us to enhance our research projects related to offshore wind and provide an opportunity to actively participate in the launch of a new industry that can have far-reaching economic benefits for our state.” Located 15 miles off the coast of Atlantic City, New Jersey, Ocean Wind will create more than 1,000 jobs during construction and is able to power more than 500,000 homes in the state. Article and Photo Credit: https://njbmagazine.com

Scott Glenn, Co Director of RUCOOL, presented a plenary talk entitled “The Power of Partnerships: Offshore Wind Energy, Environmental Awareness, and Shared Economic Success” at the Rutgers Energy Institute’s (REI) 14th Annual Energy Symposium. The REI annual symposia provide faculty, students, staff, government officials and community members with the opportunity to learn about new methods, processes, and initiatives being developed by energy thinkers at Rutgers, in NJ and across the country. The focus of the meeting was on developing offshore wind in NJ and the Northeast. DOWNLOAD Talk Now