The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is seeking to expand its pool of expert consultants to help develop the Offshore Wind Master Plan and execute offshore wind activities in support of the Clean Energy Standard of having 50% of electricity come from renewable resources by 2030.
With funding from the Clean Energy Fund, NYSERDA intends to select expert technical consultants through a competitive process for three-year contracts worth a total of up to $1.5 million.
“Offshore wind is crucial to meeting New York’s ambitious energy and clean energy job goals under Governor Cuomo’s leadership,” said John B. Rhodes, President and CEO, NYSERDA. “NYSERDA is looking to engage the very best thinking and expertise from the most experienced and knowledgeable experts, as we advance our strategy to responsibly develop this vital energy resource.”
Offshore wind has the potential to become a significant source of renewable power and economic development for New York. NYSERDA’s approach to offshore wind will provide ratepayers, consumers and developers with greater certainty, fewer risks and lower costs, and will create jobs in the State. It will engage all involved stakeholders and ensure that offshore wind in New York is developed in a way that balances the needs of all constituents, including coastal communities and the fishing and maritime industries.
NYSERDA intends to select expert technical consultants through a competitive process for three-year contracts worth a total of up to $1.5 million with an option to extend an additional two years. Funding is through the Clean Energy Fund, a core component of Governor Cuomo’s Reforming the Energy Vision strategy to build a clean, resilient and affordable energy system for all New Yorkers.
The consultants would provide support in the following categories to advance offshore wind objectives:
- Project development and permitting assistance
- Site selection and desktop development studies
- Assistance in more fully understanding the issues and opportunities around grid interconnection of offshore wind energy
- Analyses of options for economic arrangements to support energy offtake agreements for offshore wind projects that optimize the value to ratepayers
- Stakeholder engagement and supply chain/workforce development
- Offshore wind cost analyses
Consultants can apply for consideration in one or more categories. Proposals are due by January 12, 2017.
In his 2016 State of the State address, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo called for the creation of a New York Offshore Wind Master Plan, which supports his Reforming the Energy Vision.
NYSERDA is the lead entity coordinating the Master Plan, which will be a comprehensive strategy for developing New York’s offshore wind resources, and will include recommendations on the best ways to maximize the development and usage of offshore wind for the State. The Master Plan, to be released in 2017 will identify offshore wind sites and will set targets for capacity and commercial operations dates at each site. Elements of the Master Plan will include:
- Site identification and leasing strategies
- Site assessment and site characterization pre-development activities
- Cost, benefit and interconnection studies
- Analysis and recommended mechanisms for energy offtake agreements
- Local economic impacts and job creation
- Stakeholder and community engagement, and education efforts
- Viewshed, fishing, and other mitigation efforts
In September, NYSERDA released the New York State Offshore Wind Blueprint, which is a framework for the Master Plan that describes the benefits of development the State’s offshore wind potential and outlines how the State will collect and document and concerns of a range of stakeholders.
Filed Under: News, Offshore wind
