January 18, 2023

Ørsted To Take Full Control of Ocean Wind 1 Project

Ørsted has acquired the 25% interest in Ocean Wind 1 that had been held by Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG). PSEG intends to support on-land infrastructure improvements for the coming offshore wind capacity. Ocean Wind 1 has already committed to $695 million of in-state spending at present. It will create hundreds of construction and other jobs.

Gateway Development Commission To Spell Our Procurement Path

The Commission will hold a public forum to discuss the procurement process for the

Gateway rail tunnel. It will be held Thursday, February 2 from 8-11:30 am at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York.

A copy of the public notice can be accessed here.

New Activity at Wind Port

Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind says its new agreement to lease 35 acres of land at the New Jersey Wind Port in Salem County will create more than 200 new jobs at the port. It will initially use the site for marshalling of wind turbine components. It joins Orsted as a tenant at the Wind Port.

Alliance for Action Tours Veolia Water Facility That Serves 850,000

Veolia North America’s Vice President & General Manager Alan Weland recently took Alliance for Action President Jerry Keenan on a tour of Veolia’s water facility in Haworth. The plant serves 850,000 customers and processes as much as 200 million gallons of water per day. 

Ralph Izzo Gets “Oscar of Energy”

Dr. Ralph Izzo, the recently retired head of Public Service Enterprise Group, has received a lifetime achievement award at the annual Platts Global Energy Awards, often regarded “the Oscars of the energy industry.” The award recognized Izzo’s influence in the energy industry, leadership in the fight to curb climate change and efforts to champion diversity, equity and inclusion.

RWJBarnabas Closes $8M Fort Monmouth Deal, Tinton Falls Health Campus Coming

RWJBarnabas Health, parent of Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, says it could spend upwards of $650 million on a new health campus after purchasing property at Fort Monmouth. Plans include a 138,000-square-foot Cancer Center and Ambulatory Care Pavilion. Construction should begin in 2024.

NJ TRANSIT Gets Fed Study Grant To Study Light Rail Into Bergen

The Alliance for Acton has long supported the “Bergen” part of the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Line between the two counties. Now, a $600,000 federal grant is in place to study transit-oriented development on the long-proposed 9-mile extension of the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail into Bergen County.

That stretch will take the line between North Bergen and Englewood.

Army Corps Moving Forward on New Dredging Project

The Army Corps of Engineers’ Philadelphia district has awarded $28.8 million for the Townsends Inlet to Cape May Inlet dredging project. The project will also add sand to the beaches of Avalon and Stone Harbor. It is expected to start in February.

Upcoming Events

1/25/23 - The Inside Scoop with NJDOT Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti. Click here to register. 

2/8/23 - The Inside Scoop with DRPA Chief Engineer Michael Venuto. Click here to register.

2/16/23 - NJ's Leading Capital Construction Projects Awards. Click here to register.

2/21/22 - Hudson County Alliance for Action, Click here to register.

4/24/23 - 44th Annual Golf Classic. Click here to register.

Construction Initiative Signed Into Law



New Jersey has a new law that will move construction forward and create new jobs. 



The law allows developers to hire private, state-certified building inspectors to perform reviews if a municipality can’t complete construction permit inspections on a timely basis.

Governor To Update Energy Master Plan

Governor Murphy has announced that a new State Energy Master Plan will be released in 2024.

It will reflect recently announced policy changes as well as impact from federal actions such as

investment from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The Alliance will keep members apprised of pertinent public forums on this process.

New Jersey/ New York Ports Now Busiest in Nation



New Jersey and New York Ports are now officially the nation’s busiest. They moved more than 8.9 million container units in 2021, leaping over the Ports of Los Angeles. NJ/NY Port Traffic is up over 20% since 2019. The Alliance for Action applauds the Port Authority, which actually accelerated infrastructure improvements during the pandemic.  

First Monopiles Arrive in Paulsboro

The marshalling facility at Paulsboro has begun accepting the components from Europe needed to begin assembly of the first wind turbines. Construction of buildings and commissioning of machinery will continue at the 70-acre port site until the end of 2024, at which time local manufacturing of the components can begin.

NJ I-BANK Gets Funding To Modernize Drinking Water and Wastewater Systems

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has made a $500 million loan to the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank. The monies will be used to modernize wastewater and drinking water systems throughout New Jersey.



This is the first loan issued through the State Infrastructure Financing Authority Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (SWIFIA) program. It is expected 90 communities around the state will benefit from the funds.

Fort Monmouth Takes Dramatic Turn With Netflix

Netflix says it will invest upwards of $850 million to create one of the largest production facilities in the world in New Jersey. The company made the pronouncement when announcing plans to purchase a 293 tract of land at Fort Monmouth.

AT&T Foundation Grants $215,000

The AT&T Foundation granted $215,000 to organizations and libraries across NJ in 2022 to help facilitate greater digital access and literacy. The company also is working with local libraries and other nonprofit organizations in the state to offer digital literacy programs and refurbished computers for students.

People and Companies On The Move

Rich Henning is the new President and CEO of the NJ Utilities Association. He comes to NJUA from Veolia North America, where he was SVP of Communications.

Jeffrey Nash, a lawyer and longtime leader in Camden who has served on the Camden County board of commissioners for more than three decades, has been named the new CEO and president of the Rowan University/Rutgers-Camden Board of Governors.

Nash succeeds Dana Redd, who left the role last fall to become CEO and president of the Camden Community Partnership.

Dr. Michael Avaltroni is now interim president of Fairleigh Dickinson University, succeeding Dr. Christopher Capuano. Dr. Avaltroni was most recently provost at FDU.

Andres Acebo, a former partner with the DeCotiis law firm and most recently chief of staff for New Jersey City University, has been named its President. He has been overseeing a massive reorganization of the school.

Jenn Budd, Esq. is a new partner at Alliance for Action member Cohen Seglias.

James Winckowski is the new Camden County Engineer, replacing the now retired Kevin Becica.

The NUCA NJ Board of Directors elected Vincent Santaite of Montana Construction, President and Lisa Chowansky of HC Constructors, Vice President.

In Memoriam:

Evaristo G. Cruz, 82, the founder of E.E.Cruz Construction, passed away recently. He retired from E.E. Cruz in 2002