NYLCVEF and Anbaric Host Forum on Offshore Wind Transmission

New York League of Conservation Voters Education Fund
(212) 361-6350, Ext. 206

For Immediate Release: August 6, 2020
Contact: Shachar Sharon, ssharon@nylcv.org

NEW YORK LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS EDUCATION FUND AND ANBARIC CO-HOST VIRTUAL FORUM ON OFFSHORE WIND TRANSMISSION IN NEW YORK

Panelists Discussed the Role of Offshore Wind Transmission Relating to the Climate Leadership and Community Protect Act and New Brattle Group Report Findings

New York, NY— The New York League of Conservation Voters Education Fund, and Anbaric today co-hosted a virtual forum on offshore wind transmission in New York State. The event was co-sponsored by the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law and ConEd. The conversation focused on the role of offshore wind transmission as part of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) that requires New York State to generate 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind energy by 2035. 

The forum discussion featured a new analysis by the Brattle Group detailing the costs, environmental impacts, and risks of different approaches to offshore transmission development in New York. 

The presentation of Brattle’s analysis was followed by a panel discussion including:

  • Joe Martens – Director, NYOWA
  • Kevin Knobloch—President of New York OceanGrid, Anbaric
  • Tammy Mitchell— Chief of Bulk Electric Systems, New York State Department of Public Service
  • Kirsty Townsend, Director, Head of Special Projects & Decision Support, Ørsted
  • Girish Behal – Vice President Project & Business Development, New York Power Authority

The panelists discussed how governments and industry can work together to overcome transmission challenges and the importance of regional partnerships. A video recording of the forum can be viewed here. The slideshow from the forum can be viewed here.

Julie Tighe, President of the New York League of Conservation Voter Education Fund, said, “One of the most important steps we can take to reduce the effects of climate change is to green our energy sector. New York is seeking to obtain at least 9,000 megawatts of power from offshore wind as part of its Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act clean energy goals of carbon free power by 2040.  To effectively make the transition to renewable energy, we need to build a smart, modernized grid to transmit clean energy produced offshore to New Yorkers onshore. Among its many benefits, offshore wind also has the potential to play an important role in our economic recovery. We held this forum to facilitate a conversation about ways forward so that we can work together on meeting the goals of the CLCPA. We thank our event partners, our sponsor ConEd, and all of today’s participants.”

“Substantial additional offshore wind development will be necessary to achieve New York’s clean energy goals,” said Johannes Pfeifenberger, a Brattle principal and a study coauthor. “At the scale considered by New York, a planned approach to offshore transmission will significantly reduce the environmental footprint and the overall costs and feasibility risks of offshore wind generation.”

“Developing a shared ocean grid is critical to achieving New York’s ambitious offshore wind goals,” said Kevin Knobloch, President of Anbaric’s New York OceanGrid. “The next phase in achieving New York’s goals depends on building transmission infrastructure in a way that reduces overall costs and feasibility risks, protects fisheries, coastal communities and the environment, and enables developing the offshore wind industry to scale.”

“NYLCVEF is once again playing a crucial role in providing information and education on the important environmental and energy issues facing New York.  Today’s webinar on offshore wind transmission could not be more important and timely since offshore wind is expected to provide a third of New York State’s electricity by 2030. Without transmission improvements, both on and offshore, New York cannot meet its aggressive and forward-thinking clean energy goals,” said Joe Martens, New York Offshore Wind Alliance Director and forum moderator. 

About New York League of Conservation Voters Education Fund:

The New York League of Conservation Voters Education Fund educates, engages, and empowers New Yorkers to be effective environmental advocates. NYLCVEF’s programs foster open, nonpartisan discussion on environmental policy issues and encourage New Yorkers to get involved in the environmental decision-making process at the local, state, and federal levels. Visit www.nylcvef.org for more information. 

About Anbaric:

Anbaric is a majority employee-owned, US-based company focused on planning and scaling offshore transmission. The company is a partnership between the Anbaric partners and the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, which as of December 31, 2019, had net assets under management of $207.4 billion. Anbaric helped spearhead the development of two similar subsea projects between PJM and the NYISO which were delivered on schedule and on budget. Anbaric is committed to developing transmission systems for offshore wind in the US with a focus on Southern New England, New Jersey and New York as well as in Canada. For more information visit www.anbaric.com.

About The Brattle Group:

The Brattle Group answers complex economic, finance, and regulatory questions for corporations, law firms, and governments around the world. We are distinguished by the clarity of our insights and the credibility of our experts, which include leading international academics and industry specialists. Brattle has over 350 talented professionals across three continents. For more information, please visit www.brattle.com

###