Attentive Energy One (AE1), has said its proposal to the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) includes an agreement to use General Electric’s (GE) proposed turbine manufacturing facility in the state.
Last March the Total Energies and Rise Light & Power JV secured one of the six federal offshore wind leases in the New York Bight auction.
As a result, AE1 has agreed a supply chain investment proposal with GE to manufacture offshore wind blades and nacelles at a new facility in Ravena, New York.
The developer said this will catalyse a supply chain corridor that links upstate manufacturing with downstate project staging, installation, and operations.
The GE facility would be placed on the existing Port of Coeymans with state-of-the-art technology and equipment supported by an extensive array of operators already working in the port, and an experienced local labour force, it added.
The port will host two wind turbine component manufacturing facilities.
The LM Wind Power blade facility has the potential to create over 650 direct jobs, 900 indirect jobs, and 550 construction jobs.
The GE Vernova nacelle facility has the potential to create over 220 direct jobs, 490 indirect jobs, and 510 construction jobs for the region.
AE1 also announced a community investment programme of US$300m, which includes $19.5m in targeted funds to diversify and help develop the upstate-downstate supply chain as part of New York State’s third offshore wind solicitation.
This includes a grant and loan fund to help small businesses pivot to renewable energy; wraparound support services that reduce barriers to entry for participants in workforce development programs to ensure their success; and a suite of hands-on technical assistance and programs designed with and for diverse and small businesses.
In addition, over the next five years, AE1 has committed US$15m to The New York State Supply Chain Development Partnership (the SCDP)which will fund representatives from each organisation, including new local direct hires to manage the initiative, as they engage at the community level with organisations that represent small and diverse businesses in their respective regions.
The SCDP is a collaborative initiative between the Long Island-based Institute for Workforce Advancement (IWA), Albany-based Center for Economic Growth (CEG), and the NYC Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) to conduct grassroots outreach with a connected strategy across New York State.
The representatives will inform and educate about offshore wind opportunities, providing clear timelines for the AE1 Project and filling a key information and technical support gap.
Within the US$15m committed to the SCDP, AE1 intends to allocate a large portion of those dollars towards establishing a multi-million-dollar community fund as an opportunity for small diverse businesses to apply for grants or short-term loans to support their efforts to ramp up their capabilities to serve the offshore wind market.
Managing director of Attentive Energy Damian Bednarz said: “At the heart of the Attentive Energy One project is a commitment to activating a true upstate-downstate supply chain corridor that integrates both existing and new supply chain pathways.
“We’re confident that this approach, paired with a flagship manufacturing investment with GE in the Capital Region and our New York State Supply Chain Development Partnership will catalyze economic opportunities and open doors for diverse and small businesses looking to enter the clean energy economy.”