Res. No. 176

Resolution in support of the Governor of New York State in the commitment to and facilitation of the development of large-scale offshore wind projects by 2030.

By Council Members Richards, Rosenthal, Constantinides, Menchaca and Kallos

Whereas, Climate change is occurring at a rapid rate and the current trend of warming in Earth’s climate system is clear and unprecedented; and

Whereas, The increasing concentration of greenhouse gases in Earth’s atmosphere is a main cause of rapid climate change; and

Whereas, The principal human activity contributing to climate change is the emission of greenhouse gases by burning fossil fuels for power; and

Whereas, According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the future rate and magnitude of climate change will depend on the rate at which greenhouse gas concentrations in Earth’s atmosphere continue to increase; and

Whereas, Climate change is impacting New York City’s public health, critical infrastructure, communities, vulnerable populations, natural systems, buildings and economy, and these impacts will worsen in the future; and

Whereas, New York State has set policy to reduce its contribution to climate change; and

Whereas, In 2009, Governor David Paterson issued Executive Order No. 24, establishing a goal to reduce the State’s greenhouse gas emissions by 80%, relative to 1999 levels, by 2050; and

Whereas, In 2015, Governor Andrew Cuomo reaffirmed the State’s commitment to this goal; and

                     Whereas, In order to achieve this greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal the State must incorporate large-scale renewable energy projects into its power supply; and

Whereas, In August 2016, Governor Cuomo announced the establishment of New York's Clean Energy Standard which requires that 50% of New York's electricity come from renewable energy sources like wind and solar by 2030; and

Whereas, According to the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of the State has the potential to support up to 38 gigawatts of wind power, and power from offshore wind projects could become a major source of renewable energy in the decades ahead; and

Whereas, The development of offshore wind projects in the Atlantic Ocean could also generate economic activity and create jobs in adjacent communities; and

Whereas, In 2009, Con Edison, Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) and New York Power Authority (NYPA) launched the Long Island - New York City Offshore Wind Collaborative to jointly conduct a study into the feasibility of developing a large-scale offshore wind project in the Atlantic Ocean south of Long Island; and

Whereas, Con Edison, LIPA and NYPA concluded that it is feasible to connect a large-scale offshore wind project with the power grid by making adjustments to their respective power transmission systems and, further, requested that the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) issue a lease to NYPA for an area located on the outer continental shelf 13 miles south of Long Island for the development of an offshore wind project; and 

Whereas, In January 2017, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced a commitment to building 2,400 megawatts of offshore wind power by 2030, which translates to the creation of enough energy to power 1.25 million homes; and

Whereas, In September 2017, New York State submitted an Area for Consideration to BOEM, urging the federal agency to identify at least four new Wind Energy Areas (WEAs) off of New York’s Atlantic Coast, each capable of accommodating a minimum of 800 megawatts of offshore wind generation, and to conduct lease auctions for these WEAs; and

Whereas, By developing offshore wind, New York will advance its goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 40% below 1990 levels, and ensuring 50% of electricity consumed in New York State come from renewable energy sources by 2030; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York supports the Governor of New York State in the commitment to and facilitation of the development of large-scale offshore wind projects by 2030.

WM/NPJ

LS 3321

1/24/18 5:37pm