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On January 13, 2021, Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York State announced by far the largest offshore wind award set by any state in U.S. history, picking two projects that together are expected to provide 2,490 megawatts (“MWs”) of capacity and more than 2,500 good-paying jobs. This announcement, resulting from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority’s (“NYSERDA”) “Round 2” solicitation, positions New York as the undeniable center of gravity for the burgeoning U.S. offshore wind industry, which is expected to accelerate even faster in 2021 with support from the incoming Biden administration.
Youth Climate Strike protesters gather on the steps of the Massachusetts State House. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)
The climate bill currently sitting on Gov. Charlie Baker’s desk is bold and ambitious. It holds great promise for Massachusetts, as we transition to a clean energy economy that will bring cleaner air and job growth.
But it also has real consequences for the entire nation.
As former heads of New York State Energy Research and Development Authority
(NYSERDA) and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), we know firsthand that state policymakers across the country are networked together, and are keenly aware of others’ steps forward or backward on energy and environmental policy. When one state passes and proves a new policy solution, it redefines the realm of what might be possible in the other 49.
Equinor has been selected to provide New York State with offshore wind power in one of the largest renewable energy procurements in the U.S. to date. Equinor and incoming strategic partner BP will provide 1,260 megawatts (MW) of renewable offshore wind power from Empire Wind 2, and another 1,230 MW of power from Beacon Wind 1.