New York State moves forward with plan to develop offshore wind energy
New York State Public Service Commission accepted the environmental review of policy options to implement a New York State offshore wind program.
This draws the state a step closer toward meeting Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s goal of procuring at least 2.4 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030.
“The development of offshore wind energy is a vital component to achieving Governor Cuomo’s goal of 50 percent renewable energy by 2030,” Commission Chair John Rhodes said. “New York is poised to be a national leader in this burgeoning industry, reaping environmental benefit as well as creating thousands of good-paying jobs and millions of dollars of investment in our coastal communities and in New York.”
Cuomo announced in his 2018 State of the State address plans to solicit at least 800 megawatts of offshore wind power in 2018 and 2019. In January, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) released its Offshore Wind Master Plan, which lays out how to achieve the goal of 2.4 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2030.
The NYSERDA plan outlined policy options for the deployment of offshore wind energy. The commission, in its review of the plan, found several positive outcomes associated with the development of offshore wind, including public health benefits, climate change benefits, and
economic development benefits. The review also raised potential impacts, including the need to consider mitigation measures to lessen environmental impacts.
