U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) today announced $9 million in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to expand and improve services at the Salem Marine Terminal, one of the oldest ports on the East Coast. The announcement comes as President Biden prepares to sign the $1.2 trillion infrastructure package passed by the House of Representatives last week.

“The potential for the Port of Salem to take on millions of dollars in new business is tremendous. But when opportunity comes knocking you have to be ready to open the door,” said Sen. Menendez. “That’s why every penny we invest to upgrade the Salem Marine Terminal today is setting the stage for new business in the green energy space.”

“Investing in South Jersey’s port infrastructure is vital to supporting the region’s competitiveness and our state’s long-term economic growth,” said Sen. Booker. “That’s why I fought for this federal grant that will allow the Port of Salem to improve its operations, participate in the growing offshore wind industry, and build upon the success of previous projects that have modernized nearby ports. As President Biden prepares to sign a $1.2 trillion infrastructure package into law, I am especially excited at the prospect of seeing more projects such as this come to fruition to propel New Jersey’s economy forward and benefit our state’s workforce and residents.”

The South Jersey Port Corporation (SJPC), which operates the Port of Salem, will use the $9 million Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant to expand their vessel capacity and intermodal rail connectivity. SJPC plans to use the funding to rehabilitate 150 linear feet of bulkhead and extend it to 400 feet. They will also use the funding to dredge a new berth area and perform site preparation, improvements and refurbish a multi-modal rail connection.

Sen. Menendez was joined at the Salem Marine Terminal by SJPC Executive Director and CEO Andrew Saporito.

Senator Bob Menendez,
(L to R) Senator Bob Menendez, SJPC Executive Director and CEO Andrew Saporito

“We want to thank Senator Robert Menendez for his continued support for South Jersey Ports. He’s been working in tandem with Governor Phil Murphy, Senate President Steve Sweeney and regional leaders to make South Jersey a national leader of this dynamic, new green industry while also improving our overall capacity to service our current and future marine cargo customers,” said Saporito.

Sen. Menendez also highlighted the new, green jobs coming to Salem County at the New Jersey Wind Port in Lower Alloways Creek, just 11 miles from the Port of Salem. The New Jersey Wind Port is a first-in-the-nation infrastructure investment that will serve as a hub for staging, assembly and manufacturing activities related to offshore wind projects on the East Coast.

The Wind Port is expected to create up to 1,500 new high-quality jobs and $500 million of economic activity to South Jersey. The 200-acre Port will have manufacturing facilities that will produce and assemble components of a wind turbine, such as turbine blades. Wind turbines will also be stages and shipped out vertically on vessels for installation in the Atlantic Ocean.

Additionally, Sen. Menendez spoke about the manufacturing facility under construction at the Paulsboro Marine Terminal in Gloucester County that will manufacture monopiles for offshore wind turbines. The facility, which will be operated by EEW, will initially service the Ocean Wind project—a joint venture between Ørsted and PSEG—off the coast of New Jersey, before potentially supplying other offshore wind projects along the East Coast. Sen. Menendez highlighted those investments made now to upgrade the Port of Salem could similarly position it to take part in the burgeoning offshore wind industry in the state.

Sen. Menendez, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is committed to establishing New Jersey as a Mid-Atlantic offshore wind energy hub, which is critical to advancing U.S. clean energy goals.

“In the coming years, American leadership around the world will increasingly hinge on our ability to create a green energy economy here at home. Fortunately, the offshore wind energy industry that’s taking off here in New Jersey is living proof that we are up to the task,” added Sen. Menendez. “We can lead on green energy. We can unleash innovation. And in the process, we can create millions of new good-paying American jobs across every sector of our economy, including the shipping and trade that takes place here at the Port of Salem.”