Progress for New York Offshore Wind Power

ALBANY, NY (10/27/2016)(readMedia)-- Offshore wind power for New York reached another important milestone today with the release of the Final Sale Notice (FSN) for the New York Wind Energy Area (NY WEA). With this FSN, the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has laid the final groundwork for the lease auction of this nearly 80,000 acre area in the Atlantic Ocean that has the potential to provide 800 MW of offshore wind powered electricity to New York City and Long Island where it will be needed in the next decade.

"This key action by BOEM reflects a major commitment by our federal government to the large-scale development of offshore wind power for New York" said Liz Gordon, Director of the New York Offshore Wind Alliance (NYOWA). "The upcoming lease auction will launch a new offshore wind power era – one where hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers can get clean power from a local resource, and Governor Cuomo's goal of 50% renewables by 2030 can be realized."

This federal commitment to offshore wind is complemented by significant near-term State actions:

• The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is planning to bid in the auction for the NY WEA lease, with the goal of facilitating offshore wind development;

• NYSERDA is also undertaking an ambitious Offshore Wind Master Plan, which will provide a comprehensive guide for offshore wind power development in New York;

• Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) is finalizing a contract for 90 MW of offshore wind power to meet growing demand on the South Fork of Long Island; and

• LIPA is also reviewing proposals for 210 MW of renewable energy, which includes consideration of offshore wind power.

"The combined efforts of the federal and State governments are paving the way for the development of what could be the nation's largest offshore wind farm," said Liz Gordon. "And this is just the beginning – when BOEM designates additional Wind Energy Areas for New York and the State establishes a large-scale, long-term offshore wind program, those collective commitments will generate a whole new industry that will enhance both our environment and our economy."

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About the New York Offshore Wind Alliance: The New York Offshore Wind Alliance (NYOWA) is a diverse coalition of organizations with a shared interest in promoting the responsible development of offshore wind power for New York. NYOWA is a new project of the Alliance for Clean Energy New York (ACE NY). www.aceny.org/NYOWA