The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is hosting a series of public information meetings on offshore wind in Long Island.
The meetings will be held from Monday, 10 July, to Wednesday, 12 July, in Melville, Long Beach, and Southampton, respectively.
The meetings will give the public the opportunity to learn more about the State’s Offshore Wind Master Plan process and ask NYSERDA representatives questions. These meetings are open to the public.
NYSERDA, working with other State agencies, is currently producing the Offshore Wind Master Plan which will identify potential offshore wind sites that meet the State’s siting standards and take into consideration environmental, maritime, economic, and social issues.
As part of the Master Plan process, NYSERDA is conducting over 20 studies and surveys and reaching out to residents and interested stakeholder groups to weigh in regularly on the Master Plan.
The full Offshore Wind Master Plan, which will include all previously published findings, will be published by the end of 2017, NYSERDA said.
In December 2016, Statoil Wind US won rights to build an offshore wind farm at the 79,350-acre area off New York with a record bid of USD 42.5 million. The lease comprises an area that could potentially accommodate more than 1GW of offshore wind, with a phased development expected to start with 400-600 MW.
One month later, the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) unanimously approved the 90MW Deepwater ONE South Fork wind farm, the nation’s largest offshore wind farm and the first one to be built off New York.
The Deepwater ONE – South Fork project comprises 15 turbines to be installed some 30 miles southeast of Montauk.
The wind farm projects are part of the State’s plan to develop up to 2.4GW of offshore wind by 2030.