Offshore Wind Developers Submit Proposals to Advance NY’s National-Leading Clean Energy Goals
Capital Region is poised to play important manufacturing role for OSW components
ALBANY NEW YORK – Yesterday, in response to NYSERDA’s second solicitation for 2,500 megawatts of offshore wind (OSW), several international offshore wind developers submitted proposals that promise to leverage the Capital Region’s infrastructure and manufacturing capabilities to support the production of massive turbines. Combined with awards from last year’s solicitation for an additional 1,700 megawatts of clean energy, the second solicitation proposals promise to further advance the growth of a major new OSW manufacturing industry in the Capital Region.
OSW Developers
Equinor Wind U.S., Vineyard Wind and the 50/50 joint venture partnership of Ørsted and Eversource are international OSW developers that submitted proposals for NYSERDA’s second OSW procurement for up to 2,500 megawatts of clean energy, along with a multi-port infrastructure investment plan. Details of the second solicitation proposals are not yet publicly available. However, in their winning proposals for the first solicitation, Equinor and the Ørsted/Eversource joint venture identified the Capital Region as a preferred location for the fabrication of OSW components, such as gravity-based foundations and secondary steel for transition pieces.
“The Albany region has unique attributes that will make it a centerpiece of New York’s offshore wind industry,” said Thomas Brostrøm, CEO of Ørsted North America, Offshore.
“The Center for Economic Growth has been a great advocate for New York and an excellent resource for our project team,” said Mike Ausere, vice president of business development at Eversource. “We look forward to working together to deliver new opportunities to the region.”
“We are excited for the potential to expand New York’s offshore wind industry,” said Equinor Wind U.S. President Siri Espedal Kindem. “This latest solicitation builds on the region’s momentum to bring offshore wind energy to the state of New York and the economic benefits the industry provides. We believe the Capital Region can play an important role in this industry and are looking forward to leveraging this opportunity together.”
Ports
Key to the Capital Region’s emerging OSW industry are the Port of Albany and Port of Coeymans. The ports could be key staging grounds for turbine components, which would be sent down the Hudson River. The first solicitation alone was projected to support 1,600 jobs, many of which would be at the Capital Region’s ports. The second solicitation promises to add to that.
“New York’s offshore wind initiative sets a new standard for renewable energy production in the U.S. NYSERDA put forward an innovative process that not only achieves that goal but also enables significant one of a kind economic development in New York State,” said Megan Daly, the Port of Albany’s director of economic development and procurement. “The Port of Albany is pleased to partner with the leaders of the offshore wind industry to increase economic development opportunities and create skilled jobs for the Capital Region, including underserved environmental justice communities as envisioned in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.
“Developing the offshore wind industry in the U.S. is a once in a lifetime opportunity for New York State and the Capital Region. The region is pursuing supply chain solutions – for all the Northeast wind sites – that will help to bring back manufacturing jobs and showcase the highly skilled, hard-working labor force of upstate New York,” said Stephen Kelly, president of sales and business development for The Carver Companies and Port of Coeymans.
“Offshore wind is one of the biggest economic development opportunities the Capital Region has seen in decades. Just as CEG played a significant role in bringing the semiconductor device manufacturing industry to the Capital Region, we are deeply engaged with offshore wind. We are fortunate to have such visionary leadership in Governor Andrew Cuomo and the highly capable team at NYSERDA that is overseeing this massive effort,” said Center for Economic Growth President and CEO Mark Eagan.
CEG Activities
Since February 2018 – one month after NYSERDA announced the first solicitation – CEG has been raising awareness with international OSW developers the capabilities of the Capital Region’s ports while also readying a regional supply chain and workforce.
This has included:
- Raising the Capital Region’s profile with international OEMs by participating in 11 OSW conferences.
- Working with NYSERDA and OEMs to build out the region’s OSW supply chain.
- Connecting local manufacturers with OSW original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
Below is a timeline detailing CEG’s OSW activities:
As the OSW continues to evolve, developers and OEMs are looking for partners to build out the upstate supply chain. Capital Region manufacturers should reach out to CEG Director of Energy and Sustainability Peter Lion at Peterl@ceg.org or 518-465-8975 x 234.
About CEG
The Center for Economic Growth (CEG), an affiliate of the Capital Region Chamber, is the Capital Region’s regional economic development organization, supported by hundreds of investors in business, government, education, and the not-for-profit sectors. CEG is also a New York Empire State Development Division of Science, Technology and Innovation-designated Regional Technology Development Center and an affiliate of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)/Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP). For more information, visit www.ceg.org.
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