New York State has released a blueprint for developing offshore wind under governor Andrew Cuomo’s plan to reach a 50% renewable power goal by 2030.
The New York Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) document outlines next steps in developing the Offshore Wind Master Plan, which is expected at the end of 2017.
“By developing a viable offshore wind energy source, we will continue to provide New Yorkers with clean, affordable power and lay the foundation for a thriving clean energy economy,” said Cuomo (pictured).
Officials are counting on offshore wind to feed clean electricity to energy-hungry New York City and Long Island, which account for more than 45% of the state’s electricity usage, and reduce congestion without the need for new transmission from upstate.
For offshore wind to be viable at scale, market barriers, including costs, must be addressed and siting must account for the many uses of the ocean in the area, as well as potential environmental impacts, said NYSERDA.
The agency is examining a 16,740-square-mile area of the ocean, which includes the 127-square-mile New York lease area that the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management intends to auction off this year.
NYSERDA has said it will compete in the sale. If it wins a lease, the state will then combine environmental, site assessment and site characterization work with a power purchase mechanism and select a project developer through a competitive process.
The strategy minimizes project risks and provides developers certainty to secure financing, maximizing competition to participate in development, said NYSERDA.
The agency has already started digital aerial survey flights of offshore wildlife as part of its efforts to gauge offshore wind impacts.
The Long Island Power Authority postponed a vote on Deepwater Wind’s 90MW South Fork offshore project in July pending release of the master plan. The blueprint says projects like Deepwater’s can proceed, while the state-wide strategy is being developed.
Image: NY Governor’s Office
