The New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) accepted the environmental review of policy options to implement a New York State offshore wind program. This decision was made under Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s goal of providing at least 2.4 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030.
The Governor announced plans to request 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 the Offshore Wind Master Plan, which will guide the responsible and cost-effective development of 2.4 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2030.
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Commission Chair John B. Rhodes, commented on the occasion:
The development of offshore wind energy is a vital component to achieving Governor Cuomo’s goal of 50 percent renewable energy by 2030. 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.
NYSERDA has also finalized an offshore wind policy options paper, providing an assessment of alternatives for addressing a wide range of policy issues pertinent to the successful deployment of offshore wind energy. These options ensure that the State continues to meet Governor Cuomo’s goal of procuring at least 800 megawatts of offshore wind power through competitive solicitations in 2018 and 2019, and 2.4 gigawatts by 2030.
The Commission found many positive outcomes regarding the development of offshore wind, including:
- Public health benefits,
- Climate change benefits;
- Economic development benefits.
The environmental review also raised potential impacts, such as the need to consider sensitive biological resources, and mitigation measures to limit these impacts. Those impacts will be taken into consideration by the Commission and can be addressed in site-specific environmental impact statements as project development proceeds.
