Groups Praise Governor Cuomo & LIPA for Recommending Approval of Nation's Largest Offshore Wind Project
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 14, 2016
Gordian Raacke, (516) 313-6611, [email protected]
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Groups Praise Governor Cuomo and LIPA for Recommending Approval of Nation's Largest Offshore Wind Project
Uniondale, N.Y.— The Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) announced today it is recommending development of New York’s first ever offshore wind farm. LIPA’s board will formally vote on the proposed contract at a meeting next Wednesday.
Slated to be the the largest in the nation, this 90-megawatt, 15-turbine offshore wind farm would be located far off the coast of Montauk, at the eastern end of Long Island. Deepwater Wind, one of the country’s leading offshore wind companies, would spearhead the project, which is estimated to be three times larger than the Block Island wind farm project slated to begin operation off the shores of Rhode Island later this year.
For over five years, local, state and national organizations along with communities up and down Long Island in partnership with labor, municipal leaders and businesses have been actively engaged in pushing LIPA to embrace offshore wind power. Today, they cheered this announcement as the necessary first step in a bold long-term large scale offshore wind program for New York. The project will produce enough energy to power about 50,000 Long Island homes by 2022.
The Long Island Power Authority is expected to formally approve the project at the July 20, 2016 board meeting. LIPA and Deepwater Wind are expected to finalize all financial plans for the project by 2017.
Read moreOffshore Wind: Letters of Support
The organizations below (and others) have been hard at work advocating for construction of the first Long Island offshore wind park, as well as other large-scale renewable energy projects. Letters are listed in PDF form below the logos.
"Our national, state, and local organizations are united in support of responsible development of offshore wind power, and we urge New York to take pride in leading the nation toward this shining clean energy frontier."
"U.S. can benefit from years of lessons learned across the Atlantic and start America’s next energy chapter with the advanced technology and expertise available today to build projects far offshore, where the stronger wind resource provides even greater environmental and economic benefits."
Offshore Wind Advocacy Sign-On Letter to Governor Cuomo | March 26, 2014
Alliance for Clean Energy New York, Alliance for a Green Economy, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Environmental Advocates of New York, NY Smart Power, Environmental Defense Fund, Environment New York, Long Island Progressive Coalition, National Wildlife Federation, Clean Energy Council, Natural Resources Defense Council, New York League of Conservation Voters, New York Public Interest Research Group, North Fork Environmental Council, Oceana, Pace Energy & Climate Center, Renewable Energy Long Island, Save the Sound, Sierra Club, Sustainability Institute at Molloy College, Vision Long Island
"Now is the time to deepen the commitment to wind energy resources, both onshore and off. New wind energy development will not only enable New York to get back on track in meeting our renewable energy targets, but will also provide emission-free power, help us guard against volatile fossil fuel prices, and contribute substantially to local economic development."
Offshore Wind Advocacy Sign-On Letter to Governor Cuomo | December 4, 2013
Alliance for Clean Energy New York, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Environmental Advocates of New York, Natural Resources Defense Council, New York League of Conservation Voters, New York Public Interest Research Group, Pace Energy and Climate Center, Renewable Energy Long Island, Sierra Club
"Investing in a large, utility-scale offshore wind project as part of the 280 MW RFP would address many of the stated key objectives of the [Utility 2.0] Plan by increasing fuel diversity, modernizing Long Island’s clean energy infrastructure, enhancing system resiliency and reliability, and creating jobs on Long Island."
Joint Comments on PSEG-Long Island Utility 2.0 (Updated) | October 21, 2014
Sierra Club, Renewable Energy Long Island, Environmental Advocates of New York, Alliance for Clean Energy New York, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Natural Resources Defense Council, National Wildlife Federation, Pace Law School
(*See the joint comments to an earlier PSEG-Long Island Utility 2.0 Plan here)
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