New York offshore wind collaborative files lease application with BOEMRE

The Long Island  -  New York City Offshore Wind Collaborative yesterday filed an offshore wind farm lease application with BOEMRE.

The collaborative, which consists of Consolidated Edison Company of New York (Con Edison), the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA), and the New York Power Authority (NYPA), also issued a study showing that its proposed wind farm of up to 350 megawatts, potentially growing to 700 megawatts that is to be located 13 to 17 miles off the coast of the Rockaway Peninsula and Long Island, could create up to $2.7 billion in new economic activity, including 2,300 to 4,700 jobs during construction and 85 to 170 permanent jobs, depending on project size.

Since 2009, the collaborative has undertaken visualization simulations (), completed an interconnection feasibility study and issued a Request For Information (RFI) to which over 30 wind developers and technical firms responded indicating a substantial interest in developing what could be the largest offshore wind farm in the U.S. Additional information and studies are still needed, including a comprehensive review required the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), however, preliminary studies by the collaborative and the New York State Energy Research & Development Authority (NYSERDA) have indicated that the project can be economically productive, environmentally responsible, and technically feasible.

Yesterday’s application was filed on behalf of the collaborative by NYPA and seeks development rights on aproposed site, 13 to 17 miles off the coast.

Letters of support for the lease application are included in the application and were received from Consolidated Edison, Inc.; Long Island Power Authority; numerous Environmental Groups (Alliance for Clean Energy New York, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Environmental Defense Fund, Environmental Advocates of New York, National Wildlife Federation, Natural Resources Defense Council, New York League of Conservation Voters, Pace Energy and Climate Center, and Renewable Energy Long Island); New York City Mayor’s Office; New York State Governor’s Office; and Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

The federal lease acquisition process will initiate the required NEPA review process and will provide numerous opportunities for public review and input.

Contingent on various factors, the collaborative intends to conduct a competitive solicitation to select one or more private entities to develop the project. By applying to secure the lease, the collaborative intends to streamline the process for developers seeking to build the wind farm, and reduce unknown variables that will be addressed and become clearer through the lease review process, including potential grants and subsidies, size and location of the turbines, underwater terrain, environmental impacts, and ocean depths.

September 16, 2011