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Wind Farm Approved for Waters Off Long Island Nation’s Largest Offshore Wind Farm Will Be Built Off Long Island
(about 2 hours later)
UNIONDALE, N.Y. — Seeking to meet a pocket of growing electric demand in the Hamptons with renewable energy, the Long Island Power Authority approved the nation’s largest offshore wind farm on Wednesday, set for the waters between the eastern tip of Long Island and Martha’s Vineyard.UNIONDALE, N.Y. — Seeking to meet a pocket of growing electric demand in the Hamptons with renewable energy, the Long Island Power Authority approved the nation’s largest offshore wind farm on Wednesday, set for the waters between the eastern tip of Long Island and Martha’s Vineyard.
The farm, with as many as 15 turbines capable of powering 50,000 average homes, is the first of several planned by the developer, Deepwater Wind. It will be placed in a 256-square-mile parcel, with room for as many as 200 turbines, that the company is leasing from the federal government.The farm, with as many as 15 turbines capable of powering 50,000 average homes, is the first of several planned by the developer, Deepwater Wind. It will be placed in a 256-square-mile parcel, with room for as many as 200 turbines, that the company is leasing from the federal government.
“It is the largest project to date, but it will not be the last project,” the power authority’s chief executive, Thomas Falcone, said before the vote as a crowd of supporters erupted in whoops and applause.“It is the largest project to date, but it will not be the last project,” the power authority’s chief executive, Thomas Falcone, said before the vote as a crowd of supporters erupted in whoops and applause.
Wind power has struggled to take off in the United States, but the Long Island project signals that the long-awaited promise of a new, lower-carbon source of electricity is poised to become part of the national energy mix.Wind power has struggled to take off in the United States, but the Long Island project signals that the long-awaited promise of a new, lower-carbon source of electricity is poised to become part of the national energy mix.
It has been given new life by New York State’s aggressive push to meet Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s goal of drawing 50 percent of the state’s power from renewable sources by 2030.It has been given new life by New York State’s aggressive push to meet Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s goal of drawing 50 percent of the state’s power from renewable sources by 2030.
“This bold action marks the next step in our unprecedented commitment to offshore wind,” Mr. Cuomo said in a prepared statement, two weeks after he publicly called for the utility to approve the proposal. “This project will not only provide a new, reliable source of clean energy but will also create high-paying jobs, continue our efforts to combat climate change and help preserve our environment for current and future generations of New Yorkers.”“This bold action marks the next step in our unprecedented commitment to offshore wind,” Mr. Cuomo said in a prepared statement, two weeks after he publicly called for the utility to approve the proposal. “This project will not only provide a new, reliable source of clean energy but will also create high-paying jobs, continue our efforts to combat climate change and help preserve our environment for current and future generations of New Yorkers.”
The project’s cost was projected at $1 billion but is now expected to be $740 million. Deepwater plans to finance the project with loans and equity investments, as well as federal tax credits that could be in doubt under the Trump administration. The project’s cost was projected at $1 billion but is now expected to be $740 million. Deepwater plans to finance the project with loans and equity investments, according to Jeffrey Grybowski, the company’s chief executive. Its ability to benefit from federal tax credits, however, could be in doubt under the Trump administration.
The turbines, each roughly 600 feet tall, would be connected to a substation in East Hampton by a 50-mile undersea cable. The town has a goal of its own: meeting all of its electric demand with renewable energy by 2020.The turbines, each roughly 600 feet tall, would be connected to a substation in East Hampton by a 50-mile undersea cable. The town has a goal of its own: meeting all of its electric demand with renewable energy by 2020.
Other offshore wind projects, notably one off Cape Cod, have encountered opposition over their effect on ocean views. But Deepwater has said the turbines supplying East Hampton would not be visible from Montauk, on the tip of Long Island, and would barely be visible from Martha’s Vineyard, 15 miles away.Other offshore wind projects, notably one off Cape Cod, have encountered opposition over their effect on ocean views. But Deepwater has said the turbines supplying East Hampton would not be visible from Montauk, on the tip of Long Island, and would barely be visible from Martha’s Vineyard, 15 miles away.
The approval comes six weeks after the nation’s only other functioning offshore wind-energy farm — a smaller Deepwater farm, in Rhode Island state waters off Block Island — began serving customers on the grid. The approval comes six weeks after the nation’s only other functioning offshore wind-energy farm — a smaller Deepwater project, in Rhode Island state waters off Block Island — began serving customers on the grid.
Big multinational developers like Statoil and Dong Energy are also investing in the business, snapping up leases for ocean parcels with the aim of competing for utility contracts in Maryland, Massachusetts and New York. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority is putting together an offshore wind master plan to guide development, including a swath south of the Rockaways.Big multinational developers like Statoil and Dong Energy are also investing in the business, snapping up leases for ocean parcels with the aim of competing for utility contracts in Maryland, Massachusetts and New York. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority is putting together an offshore wind master plan to guide development, including a swath south of the Rockaways.
The projects have all faced some opposition, including from commercial fisheries concerned that the turbines, attached to the seafloor, will disrupt their businesses and consumers worried about higher electricity prices.The projects have all faced some opposition, including from commercial fisheries concerned that the turbines, attached to the seafloor, will disrupt their businesses and consumers worried about higher electricity prices.
According to the power authority, which plans to buy all of the Long Island farm’s output over 20 years, the cost is about the same as what it has paid for other renewable energy projects, about 16 cents a kilowatt-hour. Its average electricity price is 7.5 cents a kilowatt-hour, so the project is expected to add $1.19 a month to the average customer bill.According to the power authority, which plans to buy all of the Long Island farm’s output over 20 years, the cost is about the same as what it has paid for other renewable energy projects, about 16 cents a kilowatt-hour. Its average electricity price is 7.5 cents a kilowatt-hour, so the project is expected to add $1.19 a month to the average customer bill.