More than 60 groups representing hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers sent a letter to Governor Andrew Cuomo yesterday, calling for “a large-scale, long-term, megawatt-certain offshore wind power commitment from the Governor”.
Groups are specifically calling on the Cuomo Administration to include an offshore wind tier in the soon-to-be finalized Clean Energy Standard, in order to ensure the market certainty needed to launch a robust offshore wind industry in New York.
Catherine Bowes, senior manager for the National Wildlife Federation said: “New Yorkers are calling for bold leadership in pursuit of offshore wind power. With a massive, untapped pollution-free energy source available right off our shores, we have no time to waste. Now is the time for Governor Cuomo to make a large-scale commitment to offshore wind power and unleash the massive job creation potential of this urgently-needed clean energy source. Responsibly developed offshore wind power can and must play a major role in protecting New York’s communities and wildlife from the dangers of climate change.”
Gordian Raacke, executive director for Renewable Energy Long Island said: “Over the last two decades, European countries have developed a vibrant offshore wind industry, installed more than 3,000 turbines and created 60,000 jobs in this rapidly growing sector, while North America has not a single offshore wind turbine in operation. Governor Cuomo now has a unique opportunity to make New York a hub for building an American offshore wind industry.”
The letter was signed by representatives of environmental, public health, labor, environmental justice, and community organizations.
Kit Kennedy, director of NRDC’s Energy and Transportation Program said: “Offshore wind development is a key technology necessary to cement New York’s bold clean energy leadership under Governor Cuomo and fully realize our state’s Reforming the Energy Vision initiative. We need a long-term commitment to develop offshore wind – along with strong and strategic upfront investment in this economic and environmental driver – to produce significant and multiple benefits for all New Yorkers.”
Bill Lipton, state director for the Working Families Party said: “We applaud Governor Cuomo’s proposal that would see 50% of our state’s electricity come from renewable sources by the year 2030. In order to accomplish this goal, New York needs to take advantage of the resource sitting right off our shores. We call on the state to take bold action on offshore wind power, which will create good jobs and healthy communities and take us closer to meeting the goals Governor Cuomo has proposed.”