| Wind Watch is a registered educational charity, founded in 2005. |
Wind Power News: New York
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational effort to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law.
The battle against the Equinor wind turbine project
Long Island, with its rich history, stunning landscapes and vibrant communities, is a place we’re proud to call home. Long Islanders are deeply concerned about the proposed Equinor wind turbine project, Empire Wind, and its potential to adversely affect our health, safety and economy. It is essential that we carefully examine the implications of this project and the individuals behind it. Equinor, formerly known as Statoil, is 67 percent owned by Norway and is a partner of BP Oil. Equinor . . . Complete story »
Gov. Hochul vetoes bill related to offshore wind farm cable in Long Beach
Citing local opposition, Gov. Kathy Hochul on Friday vetoed a controversial wind power bill that contained a passage that could have allowed a proposed transmission cable in Long Beach to move through regulatory hurdles. The governor said that while she supports wind power development, she said developers must win support from host communities – which hadn’t happened in Long Beach. This was the second regulatory blow in eight days for Empire Wind, a wind farm proposed by Norway-based Equinor in the . . . Complete story »
A tricky, sticky mineral that’s challenging offshore wind developers
Offshore wind developers are encountering an unexpected challenge on the East Coast seafloor: a crushable, green mineral called glauconite, sometimes precisely where they plan to install wind turbines. The mineral – which dates back to the age of the dinosaurs – is weaker and less predictable than sand, scientists say, presenting a new engineering puzzle for researchers and wind developers to solve. Glauconite’s behavior poses a “significant risk” to offshore wind development, said a paper published this year by the U.S. Bureau . . . Complete story »
New York rejects offshore wind, onshore renewables request for larger subsidies
Gov. Kathy Hochul’s administration Thursday rejected a request from companies for bigger payments to complete large-scale wind, solar and offshore wind projects – leaving the developments in doubt and threatening New York’s ability to meet its climate goals The dismissal by the Public Service Commission sets off a scramble for developers to decide whether to cancel contracts with NYSERDA, sacrificing millions of dollars in security payments. It also places New York’s clean-energy ambitions in peril. The state’s landmark climate law requires . . . Complete story »
State PSC rejects offshore wind farm developers’ requests for more subsidies
The PSC, in a unanimous 7-0 vote, rejected the request, citing the cost to consumers and the impact of possibly “corrupting” the integrity of the state’s bidding process. Complete story »
Rotterdam approves moratoriums on wind, battery storage systems
Town lawmakers on Wednesday approved a pair of moratoriums prohibiting the construction of battery storage and wind energy systems for the next six months. The moratoriums are intended to give the town’s Energy Advisory Committee time to draft new regulations for the renewable energy systems that some residents have argued could have long-term consequences for the town and negatively impact the quality of life for residents if not properly sited and managed. The town last updated its code on wind . . . Complete story »
State governors seeking federal help for offshore wind industry
A group of U.S. governors is calling on the Biden administration to help ease the “extraordinary economic challenges” that have combined to threaten not only future offshore wind development, but also the number of projects that are already under way. In a letter submitted to the White House, the governors of Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island say “inflationary pressures, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the lingering supply-chain disruptions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic” have resulted . . . Complete story »
Proposals could increase wind energy costs 27% to 66%, NYSERDA report says
A report by the state agency leading New York’s transition into a carbon-free energy grid says requests by wind farm developers to sharply increase what they can charge for the power could potentially be 27% to 66% higher than originally proposed. Wind farm companies requesting the increases previously filed documents with the state that excluded from public release most of the now-released financial information. In a filing with the state Department of Public Service last week, the state Energy Research . . . Complete story »
City demands financial data as offshore wind developers ask for bigger subsidies
New York City and a consortium of big energy users accused offshore wind developers of “a concerted effort to avoid scrutiny” in their requests for bigger subsidies from ratepayers, filings with the state show. The challenge is directed at developers behind four offshore wind projects that New York is relying on to reach its clean energy goals. In June, the developers told state regulators that their projects would be at risk without an inflation adjustment to their contracts. But such . . . Complete story »
Fishermen, activists protest offshore wind farms near Montauk, cite recent whale deaths
The winds of change are blowing. Conservative activists, environmentalists and New Jersey fishermen protested the construction of wind turbines off the East Coast on Monday, highlighting increasing whale deaths in the region that they say are tied to offshore renewable energy. The coalition, organized by the Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow, sent out three boats to South Fork Wind Farm, roughly 20 miles from both Martha’s Vineyard and Montauk, NY, holding signs that read “STOP WINDMILLS SAVE WHALES” while shouting . . . Complete story »
