Environmental Business Labor Alliance Applauds Gov. Cuomo’s “Going All In” on Offshore Wind

“New York State will wear the crown of America’s Clean Energy Capital.”

NEW YORK, NY – The New York Offshore Wind Alliance today applauded Governor Cuomo’s “doubling down” on offshore wind as a way to provide cleaner energy and as many as 5,000 new jobs for New Yorkers.

“Governor Cuomo is showing that New York State can and will lead the nation in developing offshore wind projects and reaping the environmental and economic benefits they will bring,” said New York State Offshore Wind Alliance Director Joe Martens. “A new American industry is being born and, with the Governor’s leadership, our state will be its home.”

Appearing with Vice President Al Gore at New York University today, the Governor announced that New York State would file strong objections to the federal proposal to open up America’s coastline, including New York, to offshore oil and gas drilling.  The Governor contrasted his objections by reinforcing New York’s 2.4 gigawatt commitment to offshore wind energy by 2030, beginning with procurements this year and next of 800 megawatts. 

“Governor Cuomo’s strong commitment to offshore wind is going to propel this nation to a clean energy future,” Martens said. “New York has been in the forefront of environmental protection for more than 100 years, and once again it is demonstrating its leadership by vowing to capture the energy of the wind and sun. New York State will wear the crown of America’s Clean Energy Capital.”

“The state’s Offshore Wind Master plan already is the most ambitious, well-conceived and achievable plan of its kind in the nation. Today the Governor has demonstrated his commitment to go `all in’ on offshore wind,” Martens said.

New York’s Offshore Wind Master Plan lays out a pathway to help expedite projects that will provide electricity to more than 1.25 million homes on Long Island and New York City by 2030 and at the same time protect our coastal and marine wildlife and preserve existing offshore industries and activities.

The Offshore Wind Master Plan is part of Governor Cuomo’s visionary goal to have 50 percent of New York’s power generated by renewable energy sources by 2030. Offshore wind power can help meet that goal with clean, local, emission-free and cost-effective energy. The Governor’s “50 by 30” goal cannot be met without significant offshore wind development.

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About the New York Offshore Wind Alliance

The New York Offshore Wind Alliance (NYOWA) is a diverse coalition of nearly 30 organizations with a shared interest in promoting the responsible development of offshore wind power for New York. A project of the Alliance for Clean Energy New York (ACE NY), NYOWA has a particular focus on Governor Cuomo's goal of creating 2,400 MW of offshore wind power by 2030.

For more information see: www.aceny.org/NYOWA