New York state is leading the way for the U.S. offshore wind industry to blossom with the nation’s largest policy commitment. The Big Apple continues to make unprecedented offshore wind commitments, including the announcement of the largest solicitation to date at 2,500 megawatts — enough to power 1.25 million homes! 

New York’s leaders have been clear that developing offshore wind power is essential for meeting the state’s goal of producing 70% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030 as Governor Andrew Cuomo continues to raise the bar on the role of this untapped clean energy resource.

Milestones:

• March 2021: The New York State Public Service Commission voted to grant the Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need for New York’s South Fork Wind Farm, which is the key state permit for the project’s export cable.
• January 2021: New York awarded power contracts to Equinor to develop 2,490 megawatts of offshore wind energy, enough to power over 1.6 million homes! Learn more.
• July 2020: New York issued the largest offshore wind solicitation to date — for up to 2,500 megawatts, enough to power 1.25 million homes. The solicitation raises the bar for responsible development, including multiple provisions to protect communities and wildlife. Learn more.
• April 2020: The New York Public Service Commission voted to approve an order directing the New York State Energy Research Development Authority (NYSERDA) to solicit bids for up to 2,500 MW of new offshore wind power projects before the end of 2020. Learn more.
• January 2020: New York confirmed plans to issue its second solicitation for offshore wind farms this year, expected to add at least 1 gigawatt to the state’s pipeline. Learn more.
• December 2019: NYSERDA announced $5.5 million available for pre-development data collection to support environmentally responsible and cost-effective offshore wind energy growth in NY. Learn more.
• July 2019: Governor Cuomo signed into law a 9,000 MW offshore wind commitment AND awarded project contracts to Equinor and Ørsted to build two offshore wind projects that will collectively generate 1,700 MW – enough power for nearly one million homes. Together, the projects are expected to create over 1,600 jobs. The Governor also announced $287 million will be invested to construct manufacturing, service, and port facilities in New York, as well as $20 million dollars in a new workforce training program. Learn more.
• February 2019: Four developers submitted bids to the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) in response to the Request for Proposals issued in November 2018. Winner(s) will be announced in the spring. Learn more.
• January 2019: In his State of the State address, Governor Cuomo proposed increasing New York’s offshore wind goal nearly fourfold, to 9,000 MW by 2035. Learn more.
• November 2018: Environmental, business, labor, and community leaders applaud Long Island Power Authority decision to increase the amount of power they purchase from the South Fork Wind Farm from 90 MW to 130 MW. Learn more.
• November 2018: The Long Island Power Authority announced that amount of power they intend to purchase from the South Fork Wind Farm increased from 90 MW to 130 MW. Learn more.
• November 2018: NYSERDA issued a Request for Proposals, seeking 800 MW or more of offshore wind power development. Bids are due in February 2019 and winners will be announced in the spring. Learn more.
• September 2018: NYSERDA issued a draft Request for Proposals, considering parameters for developers to craft their bids within, for 800 MW of offshore wind power. NYSERDA will accept public comments through October 5 and will shortly thereafter issue a final Request for Proposals. Learn more.
• September 2018: BOEM hosted a public meeting to discuss feedback they received from their Call for Information and Nominations for potential offshore wind energy leasing and development in the New York Bight. 
• August 2018: Over 50 labor, conservation, environmental justice, faith, and community leaders, call on New York officials for responsible offshore wind development. Learn more.
• July 2018:  The Public Service Commission issued an order for the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority to move toward Governor Cuomo’s goal of contracting the development of 800 MW of offshore wind power  by the end of 2019. Learn more.
• April 2018: BOEM published a Call for Information and Nominations to obtain nominations from companies interested in commercial wind energy leases within the proposed area in the New York Bight. The call included a request for public comment, which closed in July 2018. Learn more.
• January 2018: The Cuomo Administration released its New York State Offshore Wind Master Plan, launching a process to consider offshore wind procurement options. As a first step toward reaching the 2,400 megawatt goal by 2030, New York will initiate procurement of at least 400 megawatts in 2018 and at least another 400 megawatts in 2019. Learn more.
• January 2017: Governor Andrew Cuomo made two historic offshore wind power announcements in his State of the State address: (1) a commitment to develop 2,400 megawatts of offshore wind energy (enough to power 1.25 million homes), and (2) support for New York’s first offshore wind project. Learn more.
• January 2017: The Long Island Power Authority formally approved a 90 MW contract with Deepwater Wind for the South Fork Wind Farm, putting it on track to be America’s second and largest offshore wind project. Learn more.
• December 2016: Statoil Wind purchased an offshore wind lease for over 80,000 acres of federal waters beginning 12 miles from the Rockaway Peninsula off New York City. The lease was awarded through a competitive auction that went through 32 rounds and resulted in a record-setting winning bid of over $42 million, demonstrating rapidly growing investor interest in the U.S. offshore wind market. Learn more.
• September 2016: The New York State Research and Development Authority released its Blueprint for the New York State Offshore Wind Master Plan, outlining a robust strategy for pursuing offshore wind to meet the state’s 50% renewable energy goal. The final Master Plan is expected by the end of 2017.
• March 2016: BOEM defined a Wind Energy Area totaling approximately 81,130 acres for potential commercial wind energy development located about 11 miles south of Long Island and will now complete an Environmental Assessment (EA) to determine potential impacts associated with issuing a lease. Learn more. 
• November 2015: BOEM held a commercial fishing stakeholder meeting to better understand how the NY Call Area is used for fishing. Learn more.
• May 2014: BOEM published a Call for Information and Nominations to obtain nominations from companies interested in commercial wind energy leases within a proposed area offshore New York 11 nautical miles south of Long Beach. In addition to the call, BOEM published a Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Assessment within the proposed area. Learn more.
• July 2013: Deepwater Wind won the country’s first ever federal offshore wind lease auction, acquiring an area over 30 miles from Long Island. The company subsequently signed a landmark agreement with NWF and other environmental organizations to protect endangered whales as their projects – including the South Fork Wind Farm – move forward in this area. Learn more.
• January 2013: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) issued a request to determine whether there is competitive interest in leasing an area offshore New York that the New York Power Authority (NYPA) proposed for developing offshore wind energy. Learn more.

What’s Next?

While we await the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s study on cumulative impacts of offshore wind energy development in federal lease areas, New York continues to be a leader in launching a U.S. offshore wind industry. The Empire State holds the nation’s largest offshore wind policy commitment in the nation and recently issued the largest solicitation to date — 2,500 megawatts (MW)!

Contact us to receive updates and learn how to help ensure offshore wind power plays a major role in New York’s energy future!

Resources

• New York State Offshore Wind Master Plan: Charting a Course to 2,400 MW of Offshore Wind Energy
• New York State Energy Research and Development Authority’s Offshore Wind Energy webpage
• For maps and the latest updates on the federal offshore wind leasing and permitting process off the coast of New York, visit the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management‘s New York page.
• Latest New York News and Blogs