Mayor Bill de Blasio and the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) announced a 15-year, $ 191 million Offshore Wind Vision (OSW) plan to make New York a premier destination for the offshore wind industry .

The plan also ensures that the city meets the country’s leading climate goals of 100% clean electricity by 2040 and carbon neutrality by 2050.

The shift to wind investment will put New York on the right track to create more than 13,000 jobs and generate $ 1.3 billion in average annual investment, according to EDC.

It will also reduce CO2 emissions by 34.5 million tonnes – the equivalent of taking nearly 500,000 cars off the road for 15 years.

“The climate crisis is real. New York City will serve as a model for taking climate action and developing the offshore wind industry with a real long-term vision plan focused on equity, â€said Mayor de Blasio. “Now we have the opportunity to keep our promises and put the city on the path to a sustainable future. ”

New York already has five offshore wind projects in active development – the country’s largest offshore wind pipeline totaling over 4,300 megawatts and accounting for almost 50% of the capacity needed to meet New York’s offshore wind target of 9,000 megawatts. by 2035.

In Sunset Park, Brooklyn, NYCEDC and its partners have collaborated to transform the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal (SBMT) into an OSW port, which will be operated by Equinor, a global developer of offshore wind energy operating the Empire Wind project. This ensures that a significant portion of the booming industry will land in New York City by the mid-2020s.

The plan announced this week focuses on three key areas: sites and infrastructure, businesses and workforce, and research and innovation.

New York is to build the infrastructure that will support the construction and operation of offshore wind farms and the plan outlines how the city will expand its manufacturing sector to build, stage and install wind turbines, and ensure they can be maintained and supplied locally.

NYCEDC will also work with the offshore wind industry and its partners to launch an accelerator that will allow New York-based startups to develop the next generation of technologies to support advancements in the field.

“This forward-looking plan to develop the offshore wind industry allows New York to reduce emissions while creating good green jobs,” US Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer said. “The mayor has long understood how transforming our energy system will propel our economy to new heights. I thank him for continuing to show bold leadership on this vital issue. ”

To help ensure progress, NYCEDC will establish an Offshore Wind Industry Advisory Board chaired by Co-Chairs Elizabeth Yeampierre, Executive Director of UPROSE, and KC Sahl, Northeast Energy Market Leader at VHB, a civil engineering company active in the offshore wind industry. . The board will be made up of other community, business and non-profit leaders with relevant expertise and experience.

“For decades, offshore wind developers, supply chain manufacturers, consultants and environmental justice organizations have been dedicated to a clean energy future, while creating economic opportunities for all communities. The New York City Offshore Wind Advisory Council will strive to align these efforts to better serve the future of New York City, â€Sahl said.

In July, New Jersey paved the way for hundreds of wind turbines off the state’s coast for years to come.

Two wind farm projects have already been approved, potentially giving New Jersey the second largest offshore wind power of any state, behind New York.

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