New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) and Mayor Bill de Blasio have unveiled a $191m (€163m) plan to make New York City a leading destination for the offshore wind industry.
The 15-year Offshore Wind Vision (OSW) plan aims to put the city on a path to create over 13,000 jobs and generate $1.3bn in average annual investment.
It also aims to ensure 40% of job and investment benefits are directed toward women, minorities, and environmental justice communities, as well as reduce 34.5 million tons of CO2.
New York City will make commitments focused on three core areas – sites and infrastructure, business and workforce, and research and innovation.
The city will work to develop best-in-class infrastructure that will support the construction and operation of offshore wind farms.
The plan outlines how the city will expand its manufacturing sector to build, stage, and install wind turbines, and ensure they can be serviced and powered locally.
It also commits the city to developing public-private partnerships with communities to create good-paying, green jobs in disadvantaged neighbourhoods historically impacted by climate injustice.
The city will focus on targeted investments to develop workforce trainings and support businesses that seek to create a diverse talent pool in offshore wind.
New York City will also work to promote research and innovation in offshore wind so new technologies and approaches are created locally.
NYCEDC will work with the offshore wind industry and partners to launch an accelerator that will allow New York-based start-ups to build out the next generation of offshore wind technologies to support worldwide growth and advancement in the field.
De Blasio said: “New York City is stepping up to confront the climate crisis with bold action.
“Investing in our offshore wind industry isn’t only a win for our planet, it also means thousands of new jobs and affordable, clean power for New Yorkers.
“This plan will have a dramatic impact on our fight against climate change and will help set us on the path towards a clean energy future.”
The OSW Vision Plan wants to attract additional federal, state, and private investments to drive industry growth to make the long-term vision a reality.
NYCEDC will establish an Offshore Wind Industry Advisory Council led by co-chairs Elizabeth Yeampierre, executive director of UPROSE, and KC Sahl, northeast energy market leader at VHB, a civil engineering company active in the offshore wind industry.
The council will be made up of additional community, business and nonprofit leaders with relevant expertise and experience.