There has been a lot of exciting offshore wind news in recent months, including the completed installation of the first offshore wind turbine for South Fork Wind, a historic milestone for New York’s offshore wind development in what will be the first completed utility-scale wind farm in the United States in federal waters. That first turbine is now delivering clean power to Long Island. (Take an up-close look at this incredible project in footage from a tour by project’s developers Ørsted and Eversource.)
In October, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that New York State was making the largest state investment in renewable energy in U.S. history, a monumental step forward in New York’s effort to meet its climate goals that included a call for three new offshore wind projects (as well as 22 land-based renewable energy projects). Then, on November 30, NYSERDA released the RFPs for a new round of expedited large-scale offshore wind and land-based renewable energy project solicitations.
Unfortunately, factions opposed to offshore wind are spreading misinformation about the impact of offshore wind on marine life and are pushing other false narratives in an effort to stymie all of this progress.
To help you understand what it all means, NYLCVEF and Citizens Campaign for the Environment (CCE) hosted “Why Wind Works,” a Lunch and Learn with an expert panel, including Tighe as well as CCE Executive Director Adrienne Esposito and speakers from BOEM, the NY State Energy Research and Development Authority, and the NY State Department of Environmental Conservation. There was also an audience Q&A at the conclusion of the panel discussion.
We invite you to view the recording here.
Our ability to mitigate climate change is largely dependent on ambitious action to decarbonize New York’s energy grid within the next decade. New York’s continued progress toward achieving 70% renewable electricity by 2030 and 100% clean energy by 2040 is why in 2024 we will advocate for the the timely procurement, responsible siting, permitting and transmission of 9 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2035, while increasing our offshore wind goal to 20 gigawatts by 2050.
You can take action today to show your support for offshore wind. As New York’s offshore power kicks into action and the 2024 session gets underway, it’s a critical time to come out strong for a clean energy future.
Join us in urging Governor Hochul’s administration to grow New York’s offshore wind energy sector.
Offshore wind is not only an essential component of the transition to clean electricity production, it will create thousands of good union jobs. It is crucial that we scale up offshore wind and expedite the development and approval of existing and upcoming offshore wind projects. Sign the petition today.