The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is publishing a call for information and nominations for offshore wind energy development within the New York Bight region.
BOEM is seeking nominations from companies interested in commercial wind energy leases within proposed areas in the New York Bight, representing an area of shallow waters between Long Island (to the north and east) and the New Jersey coast (to the south and west).
The proposed locations, or call areas, under consideration in today’s announcement are delineated as Fairways North, Fairways South, Hudson North and Hudson South. A map of the call areas can be found here.
In addition to nominations, BOEM is seeking public input on the potential for wind energy development in the call areas. This includes site conditions, resources and multiple uses in close proximity to, or within, the call areas that would be relevant to BOEM’s review of any nominations submitted, as well as BOEM’s subsequent decision whether to offer all or part of the call areas for commercial wind leasing.
The announcement builds on BOEM’s recent efforts to expand offshore wind energy through the leasing of wind energy areas. So far, BOEM has awarded 13 commercial wind energy leases off the Atlantic coast and expects to hold an additional competitive auction for wind energy areas offshore Massachusetts later this year.
BOEM will publish the call in the Federal Register on April 11, including a 45-day public comment period. BOEM will accept nominations and comments until May 29. More information can be found here.
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, D-N.Y, says the announcement supports his Offshore Wind Master Plan, a goal to install 2.4 GW of offshore wind energy by 2030.
“New York has made an unparalleled commitment to expanding offshore wind and leading in the clean energy economy, and I commend the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management for supporting our efforts to develop a cleaner, more prosperous future,” the governor says in a statement. “In New York, we are proud to have a nation-leading mandate to generate 50 percent of the state’s electricity needs from renewable energy sources. To advance our clean energy goals, we are undertaking one of the largest offshore wind development plans in the country, which will power 1.2 million New York homes and create 5,000 good-paying jobs.”
He adds, “While New York welcomes BOEM’s support in advancing our offshore wind plan, I remain deeply concerned by the federal government’s proposal to allow new offshore oil and gas drilling off our shores. New York has formally requested to be excluded from this offshore drilling plan, and we believe offshore wind is a better direction for our economy, for our environment and for our energy future.”