The US offshore wind industry is backing Governor of New York Andrew Cuomo’s commitment to a new installed offshore wind target for the state of 9GW by 2035.
New York State Energy Research & Development Authority president and chief executive Alicia Barton said the announcement made clear that New York intends to “set the pace of building a clean energy powered future”.
She added that NYSERDA was proud to be working on the governor’s “landmark” agenda. “My colleagues and I can’t wait to get started,” she said.
New York OffShore Wind Alliance director Joe Martens described the new goal is “good for New York, the region and the nation”.
He said: “The New York Offshore Wind Alliance applauds the governor’s bold and visionary announcements and commits to working with his administration to ensure they are realised.”
The alliance is a coalition of organisations promoting the offshore sector’s development off the coast of New York state.
The new offshore goal is almost four times the the previous target for 2030 of 2.4GW.
Details were announced as part of a State of the State address, which also committed to 6GW of solar by 2025, up from 3GW, and “more than doubling” of large-scale onshore wind.
The offshore wind capacity will contribute to a new renewable electricity target of 70% for 2030, up from the previous 50% plan, said Cuomo.
New York will be 100% clean power by 2040, he added.
“Offshore wind has the potential…we want to locate the industry in this state,” he said.
Some $1.5bn will be invested to support offshore wind and other renewables projects this year.
Representative group the Business Network for Offshore Wind thanks Gov. Cuomo for making offshore wind a “critical” pillar of his 100% renewables plan.
“This is a massive increase and sends a clear message to the industry that New York is taking a leadership position in the US offshore wind market.
“We also thank the Governor for asking for $200 million in port infrastructure, and investments in a training center and the development of an offshore transmission grid to make development more efficient and affordable for taxpayers and ratepayers. New York is off to a great start in 2019.”