Unique Coalition of Business, Labor and Environmental Groups Calls Cuomo Plan “The Nation’s Best”

Clean, Emission-Free Technology Could Power More Than 1.25 million Homes, Create Thousands of New Jobs

ALBANY, NY – The New York Offshore Wind Alliance today applauded Governor Cuomo’s Offshore Wind Master Plan, which explores all facets of the burgeoning offshore wind energy industry from workforce needs, to port development to environmental conditions. The Plan, along with an Offshore Wind Policy Options Paper, was submitted to the Public Service Commission for consideration.

“Governor Cuomo is showing that New York State unquestionably is the leader when it comes to developing offshore wind projects and reaping the environmental and economic benefits they will bring. The New York Offshore Wind Master Plan is an unprecedented, nation-leading effort that lays the foundation right here in New York for a new American industry,” New York State Offshore Wind Alliance Director Joe Martens said.

“What New Yorkers need now is timely and decisive action to see that this plan becomes a reality. We look forward to working with the Governor, NYSERDA, the Public Service Commission and all others involved to see that New York’s offshore wind program is the nation’s best,” said Martens.

The Offshore Wind Master Plan released today was created after months of outreach and public input collected by the New York State Energy, Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and other state agencies. The goal was to explore and develop data on all aspects of offshore wind energy to help jumpstart this nascent U.S business and to help expedite projects that will provide electricity to more than 1.25 million homes on Long Island and New York City by 2030 and at the same time protect our coastal and marine wildlife and preserve existing offshore industries and activities.

The Offshore Wind Master Plan is part of Governor Cuomo’s visionary goal to have 50 percent of New York’s power generated by renewable energy sources by 2030. Offshore wind power can help meet that goal with clean, local, emission-free and cost-effective energy. The Governor’s “50 by 30” goal cannot be met without significant offshore wind development.

NYSERDA’s Offshore Wind Master Plan and Policy Options Paper will create a roadmap for how New York can take advantage of the strong winds far off New York’s coast.

Catherine Bowes, Offshore Wind Energy Program Director for National Wildlife Federation, said: “Now is the time for bold, decisive steps forward to achieve New York’s offshore wind energy goal and unleash the game changing environmental and economic opportunity available far off our shores. We look forward to reviewing the Master Plan in detail and continuing to work with the Cuomo Administration to realize the golden opportunity of responsibly developed offshore wind power. We applaud New York State on the completion of this comprehensive effort, and urge swift action to deliver Governor Cuomo’s commitment to initiate a procurement process by the end of this year and launch this critically needed new clean energy industry.”

Anne Reynolds, Executive Director of the Alliance for Clean Energy New York (ACE NY), said: “Offshore wind developers are ready to help New York meet the Governor’s goals, and are particularly interested in when and how they can compete for contracts and invest in New York. The Offshore Wind Policy Options Paper lays out these procurement options. Nailing down these procurement details needs to be New York’s next step.”

Jim Cahill, President of the New York State Building & Construction Trades Councilsaid: “We’ve been eagerly awaiting NYSERDA’s Master Plan and it doesn’t disappoint! It explores every aspect of this enormous opportunity and provides the path necessary to keep New York on track to be the nation’s offshore wind leader. I’m especially happy to see the opportunities for job creation and port development, not only in New York City, but also Upstate. It just shows the potential for ALL of New York to play a role in the success of the industry. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – New York’s unionized construction workers are ready, willing, and able to safely build these state-of-the-art offshore wind farms, and now, after seeing the Master Plan, we can’t wait to get to work.”

Kevin S. Law, President & CEO of the Long Island Association, said: “The Long Island Association hosted the first open house for Governor Cuomo’s Offshore Wind Master Plan last year to help create new clean energy jobs and spur economic growth, and thus we applaud the Governor for releasing NYSERDA’s plan today.”

Sierra Club, Senior New York Representative, Lisa Dix, said: “We applaud Governor Cuomo for stepping up and showing our nation that good-paying jobs in the renewable energy industry are possible, not only helping to curb climate change, but turning New York into a renewable energy economic powerhouse of the 21st century.  In addition to grid reliability and stable electricity bills, New York’s offshore master plan shows that a commitment to a steady stream of projects over the next decade would create thousands of new jobs and manufacturing opportunities while increasing economic development throughout the state. But now the state must swiftly act this year to issue a procurement and establish an enforceable long-term program, with the guarantee projects are built every year, the Governor’s targets are met and the climate, economic, manufacturing and jobs benefits are realized.”

Kit Kennedy, Senior Director of NRDC’s Climate & Clean Energy program, said: “While the Trump administration pushes to open the Atlantic Ocean up to dangerous oil drilling, New York is pursuing a cleaner future. This plan is aimed at making New York a national leader in offshore wind energy. We look forward to make the promise of clean, responsible offshore wind development a reality.”

Amber Hewett • January 29, 2018