Cuomo Calls For New York Offshore Wind Master Plan

The State of New York will engage community members, environmental advocates, and government partners at all levels to create the New York Offshore Wind Master Plan that will serve as a blueprint for the future of offshore wind in New York, the state’s Governor Andrew Cuomo said in his State of the State address Wednesday.

New York has 127 miles of coastline that present an enormous opportunity to generate energy through the deployment of offshore wind turbines, Cuomo said.

The state will provide USD 5 million to support the planning effort which will develop a path forward for the siting of offshore wind turbines, Cuomo said in the address.

However, Cuomo added that as the state advances a strategy to capture this potential, it is critical to ensure that offshore wind does not come at the expense of vital coastal habitats and economies, including tourism, fishing, and boating.

Back in December, Cuomo directed the Department of Public Service to advance a new Clean Energy Standard before the Public Service Commission to mandate that 50 percent of the state’s energy come from renewable sources by 2030. To meet the requirements of the Clean Energy Standard, New York will need more of the power to come from carbon-free wind farms.

The state will also advance a ten-year, USD 5 billion Clean Energy Fund (CEF) to support clean energy projects and programs. The CEF is funded by surcharges on utility bills, and in 2016, will include an immediate decrease of USD 90 million in ratepayer collections, and a total reduction of USD 1.5 billion by 2025.