Albany, N.Y. — Today marks an important milestone in pursuit of critically needed offshore wind energy for New York. The US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management announced it will offer over 80,000 acres of federal waters for lease for offshore wind energy development off the Rockaways – enough to support a large scale commercial wind project. Governor Cuomo’s Clean Energy Standard requires the state to source 50 percent of New York’s electric energy from renewables by 2030. The Cuomo Administration has publicly stated that the development and deployment of offshore wind is essential to achieve New York’s renewable energy targets.
In response, Alliance for Clean Energy New York, Environmental Advocates of New York, National Wildlife Federation, Renewable Energy Long Island, the Sierra Club, and Citizens Campaign for the Environment issued the following statement:
"We applaud the federal government for making New York a top priority for offshore wind development and moving the leasing process forward off the Rockaways.
Our organizations call on Governor Cuomo to seize this opportunity and commit to a long term, large scale offshore wind program for New York this year. Responsibly developed offshore wind power must play a major role in New York's energy future. A strong commitment to offshore wind as part of the Governor’s Clean Energy Standard would help launch an entirely new industry, with the capacity to power millions of homes, produce millions of dollars in economic investments and spur new economic development and manufacturing opportunities statewide. Now is the time for Governor Cuomo and New York's leaders to embrace the massive, job-creating power source needed to meet the states clean energy and climate goals."