Offshore Wind: A New York Success Story In the Making

By Fred Zalcman

New York’s offshore wind program is a shining success story. The program is well on its way, with nearly half of the capacity needed to meet our nation’s leading goal of 9 GW by 2035 already procured and under development; with the possibility that this goal will be fully addressed with the next solicitation. These investments are already paying dividends. Ports and harbors from Long Island to the Capitol District are abuzz with activity, modernizing these important assets to meet the specialized and diverse needs of the offshore wind industry. Factories like the Ljungstrom facility in Wellsville in Upstate NY are retooling to fabricate the steel components necessary to anchor the mammoth wind turbines to the seabed. Industry, organized labor, and colleges are standing up the training facilities to ensure a well-trained and inclusive workforce is ready for the first turbines in the water as early as 2023.  And, at the center of it all, we are reducing our reliance on fossil generation that impacts public health, undercuts our national security, and exposes this and future generations to the threat of climate change.

But this is no time for New York to rest on its laurels. We have a lot of difficult work ahead as we transition to a decarbonized grid. And as the Draft Climate Action Plan demonstrates, offshore wind can and must be a cornerstone of this transformation.

Here are some of the key policies and programs necessary facilitate and accelerate the deployment of offshore wind.

First, New York should extend and ratchet up its offshore wind deployment targets beyond 2035.   Under all scenarios studied in the CAC, offshore wind satisfies at least 20% of winter energy demand in NYS. Moreover, offshore wind can be a critical primary energy source in creating the green hydrogen fuel stock needed for the deep decarbonization of difficult to address sectors like heavy transportation.   New York should establish a clear glidepath to meeting these targets.

Second, Governor Hochul has announced the initiation of an Offshore Wind Master Plan 2.0 to address the potential for offshore wind in the deep ocean environment. “Floating wind” is truly the next frontier in offshore wind development and NYOWA applauds this effort.

Third, as previously noted, there are many parallel efforts underway to train the next generation of offshore wind workers and meet the coming demand. We encourage the state, through NYSERDA and the Department of Labor, to ensure the coordinated delivery of these programs and that the training be designed and delivered to address any specific barriers encountered in environmental justice communities.

Fourth, New York should maintain and enhance its leadership position on the resourcing of national and regional wildlife research efforts such as the Regional Wildlife Science Collaborative for Offshore Wind. Such organizations are critical developing a deeper understanding of offshore wind development and the ocean environment.

Last, the transition to a renewable energy future cannot be achieved without a fundamental rethinking of – and investment in - the transmission network necessary to deliver the power to Downstate load centers. We support New York’s efforts to identify strategic offshore and onshore cable corridors that minimize the economic, environmental, technical, and social constraints. The state should work in concert with the private sector in planning and developing these routes.

NYOWA looks forward to working with all stakeholders in realizing New York’s ambitious, yet achievable, vision.