Atlantic offshore wind energy consortium

The Governor signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) and nine other east coast governors to create an Atlantic Offshore Wind Energy Consortium. The Consortium will facilitate the partnership between the Atlantic states and DOI in the development of appropriate offshore wind energy, for which DOI is responsible for issuing leases.

"Positioning New York as a leader in the clean energy economy is one of my top priorities," Governor Paterson said. "This will help to create jobs, provide for our energy needs, improve our economy, and make our environment cleaner for all New Yorkers. I look forward to working with the Department of the Interior and the Atlantic coast governors to coordinate our efforts and ensure the development of our offshore wind energy resources in a responsible manner."

This agreement comes shortly after a separate MOU was signed by the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA), Consolidated Edison (Con Ed) and the New York Power Authority (NYPA), agreeing to engage in pre-development activities and studies as this collaboration looks toward the proposed development of the Long Island – New York City (LI-/NYC) Offshore Wind Project. This intrastate MOU marks the first regional partnership between these public and private utility service providers.

The LIPA/Con Ed/NYPA MOU provides for a cost sharing mechanism among the partners of the collaborative to engage in the following:

• Develop a business model and issue a Request For Proposals (RFP) and negotiate a Power Purchase Agreement;

• Evaluate RFP and other technical, economic and environmental aspects of proposed offshore project;

• File land lease application with United States Department of the Interior’s Minerals Management Service;

• Conduct economic, environmental, geologic, wind, equipment and visualization studies in an effort to assess the proposed off-shore wind project;

• Engage in a coordinated public outreach & education effort and assess public feasibility.

The Collaborative, consisting of the aforementioned utility companies and authorities as well as the City of New York/New York City Economic Development Corporation, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, anticipates issuing a Request for Proposals later this year. 

www.linycoffshorewind.com.