SOURCE:
https://patch.com/new-york/longbeach/rice-calls-feds-let-offshore-wind-projects-move-forward
By Alex Costello - August 26, 2020
Two offshore wind farms were approved by the state last year, but the federal government hasn't done its part yet, the Congresswoman said.
LONG BEACH, NY — Government, environment and labor leaders gathered in Long Beach today to call on the federal Department of Interior to allow lease auctions to be held for New York offshore wind farms.
The group was gathered by Representative Kathleen Rice, who penned a letter to the DOI today asking it to designate final wind energy areas in the New York Bight and hold lease auctions before the end of 2020. She was joined in the letter by a bi-partisan group of New York representatives.
"Offshore wind is a vital part of our renewable energy future in New York and up and down the Eastern Seaboard," Rice said. "Making the switch to clean, renewable energy is the only chance we have against The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), a federal agency within DOI, was scheduled to announce Wind Energy Areas in early 2019. Yet over a year and a half later, the final designations have still not been made. Final designations must be made prior to lease auctions for developers to bid on the right to apply for federal permits to construct wind projects in these areas.
Last year, Gov. Andrew Cuomo approved two wind farms that would sit off the coast of Long Island: the Empire Wind Project, which would be about 14 miles off the cost of Jones Beach, and the Sunrise Wind Project, which would sit about 30 miles from Montauk Point. Those two projects, Cuomo said, would generate 1,700 megawatts of renewable energy (which would power more than 1 million homes), create 1,600 jobs and generate $3.2 billion in economic activity.
climate change, so delaying these projects is not only harmful to the environment and to public health, but also a hindrance to our economy which will reap the rewards of thousands of new jobs from this industry. The Department of Interior must move this process forward and clear the way for new offshore wind projects to get underway."
Several individuals and groups joined Rice in supporting the call for action, including New York State Senator Todd Kaminsky, New York Offshore Wind Alliance, New York League of Conservation Voters, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Climate Jobs NY, Long Island Association, American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) and National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA).
"The wind energy areas in the New York Bight represent an untapped potential for Long Island to lead New York State's effort to reduce its carbon footprint," said Julie Tighe, president of the New York League of Conservation Voters. "Investing in these areas is also an important opportunity for our economic recovery. It will create well-paying jobs, slash emissions, and reduce energy costs - a win-win for the environment and the economy."
