The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is seeking to expand its pool of consultants to help develop the Offshore Wind Master Plan and execute offshore wind activities in support of the Clean Energy Standard, which calls for having 50% of electricity come from renewable resources by 2030.
Through a competitive process, NYSERDA intends to select technical consultants for three-year contracts worth a total of up to $1.5 million. There will also be an option to extend the contracts for an additional two years.
Funding is facilitated through the Clean Energy Fund, a core component of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s Reforming the Energy Vision strategy.
“Offshore wind is crucial to meeting New York’s ambitious energy and clean energy job goals under Gov. Cuomo’s leadership,” states John B. Rhodes, president and CEO of NYSERDA. “NYSERDA is looking to engage the very best thinking and expertise from the most experienced and knowledgeable experts as we advance our strategy to responsibly develop this vital energy resource.”
The consultants would provide support in the following categories to advance offshore wind objectives:
1) Project development and permitting assistance;
2) Site selection and desktop development studies;
3) Assistance in better understanding the issues and opportunities around grid interconnection of offshore wind;
4) Analyses of options for economic arrangements to support energy off-take agreements for offshore wind projects that optimize the value to ratepayers;
5) Stakeholder engagement and supply-chain/workforce development; and
6) Offshore wind cost analyses.
Consultants can apply for consideration in one or more categories. Proposals are due by Jan. 12, 2017.
In his 2016 State of the State address, Cuomo called for the creation of a New York Offshore Wind Master Plan, which supports his Reforming the Energy Vision.
NYSERDA is the lead entity coordinating the master plan, which will be a comprehensive strategy for developing New York’s offshore wind resources and will include recommendations on the best ways to maximize the development and usage of offshore wind for the state.
The master plan, to be released in 2017, will identify offshore wind sites and set targets for capacity and commercial operations dates at each site. In September, NYSERDA released the New York State Offshore Wind Blueprint, a framework for the master plan.
