Gov. Phil Murphy signed his eighth executive order aimed at expanding wind energy production off the New Jersey coast.

The governor signed the order Wednesday at the Atlantic County Utilities Authority in the shadow of giant wind turbines in Atlantic City's marshland.

The order commits the state to creating 3,500 megawatts of wind energy by 2030. 

“That’s enough energy to power a 1.5 million homes in New Jersey,” Murphy said. “If we do it, we could become the wind energy capital, not just of America, but of the world.”

Murphy’s order comes after former Gov. Chris Christie signed legislation in 2010 to spur offshore wind production, though his administration later failed to green-light projects.

Murphy's action won praise from environmental groups who back offshore wind as a low-carbon source of energy.