July 13, 2018, by Power Engineering Editors
New York’s state utility leadership has ordered the first procurements toward a goal of 2,400 MW of new offshore wind power generation by 2030, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office announced this week.
The state’s Energy Research & Development Authority (NYSERDA) will procure approximately 800 MW of offshore wind through a solicitation in the fourth quarter this year, working together with the New York Power Authority and the Long Island Power Authority. Award of the procurement is expected to be announced in the second quarter of 2019, with a second solicitation later that year.
“This action represents another major step toward establishing a clean energy future that is secure, reliable and cost-effective,” Cuomo said in a statement. “Robust offshore wind development is not only critical to meeting our clean energy and carbon reduction goals, this investment has the potential to create thousands of jobs and fuel a $6 billion industry for New York as it combats climate change.”
The desired 2,400 MW of offshore wind would be enough to power 1.2 million New York households, according to the release. The state wants to get half of its electricity from renewables by 2030.
The release predicted that work on the offshore wind projects would support some 5,000 new manufacturing, installation and operations jobs.
“These provisions will ensure that good-paying jobs are associated with the development of offshore wind for New York State,” the governor’s release reads. “Further, the order includes provisions to ensure that any awarded offshore wind projects consider the interests of ocean users such as commercial and recreational fishing, environmental stakeholders and coastal communities.
Through these solicitations, NYSERDA will procure Offshore Wind Renewable Energy Certificates, ORECs, from awarded facilities. Each electric utility and other third-party suppliers of electricity serving retail customers in New York will support these new offshore wind resources through the purchase of ORECs from NYSERDA.
“Offshore wind promises to be a great, clean, cost-effective source of energy for New Yorkers,” John Rhodes, chairman of the state’s Public Service Commission, said in a statement. “With today’s action, we move decisively to procure 800 MW of this resource, on the path to meeting Governor Cuomo’s goal of procuring 2,400 megawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030.”
NYSERDA will hold a technical conference to discuss topics related to the solicitation process at The Department of Public Service’s New York City office (90 Church Street, New York) and via webinar on July 23.
Share This: