The solicitations will be the first in a set schedule to reach the state’s target of up to 2.4GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030, set by Cuomo last year.
It is as-yet unclear how much capacity will be tendered in each RFP.
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) will also be directed to invest $15 million in training workers for jobs in clean energy, including offshore wind construction, installation, operation, maintenance, design and associated infrastructure.
It was also announced that NYSERDA would work with other state agencies to research public and private offshore wind port infrastructure investments.
Kick start
New York’s plans for offshore expansion are part of a wider push to kick start the US nascent offshore sector.
The US currently has just the one offshore wind farm, the five-turbine, 30MW Block Island project off the coast of Rhode Island.
But New York, and other states including Massachusetts and Maryland are exploring the potential of offshore wind in the United States.
Last year, the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) approved a 20-year power purchase agreement for Deepwater Wind — the company behind Block Island — to develop a 15-turbine 90MW site off New York.
The South Fork site would be the first phase of Deepwater’s 1GW Deepwater One project, for which it has a lease from the federal government.
Also in 2017, New York’s state government asked the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to open up more areas for up to 3.2GW of offshore developments.
NYSERDA had previously committed to 2.4GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030 and the state has also set a target to source 50% of its electricity by the same year.
Climate measures
The RFPs and $15 million investment would help "position New York as the leading offshore wind market in the United States", NYSERDA stated.
The proposals were announced in the 20th proposal of the 2018 State of the State: New York’s Clean Energy Jobs and Climate Agenda. Other measures included:
- Expanding the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, through which nine states are working towards reducing the cap on GHG emissions from power plants 50% by 2020, to Virginia and New Jersey, as well as to power plants smaller than 25MW;
- Investing $200 million towards meeting the state’s energy storage target of 1.5GW by 2024;
- Securing community solar subscriptions for low-income customers;
- Reconvening the Scientific Advisory Committee on Climate Change to "develop recommendations to navigate the challenges of climate change";
- Setting a new energy efficiency target by 22 April (Earth Day).
Announcing the proposals, governor Cuomo said: "New Yorkers know too well the devastation caused by climate change, and in order to slow the effects of extreme weather and build our communities to be stronger and more resilient, we must make significant investments in renewable energy.
"With this proposal, New York is taking bold action to fight climate change and protect our environment, while supporting and growing 21st century jobs in these cutting-edge renewable industries."
