State Further Explores Offshore Wind Project

NEW YORK CITY-Gov. David Paterson revealed the formation of an interdisciplinary working group between the Long Island Power Authority and Consolidated Edison Inc. to study the potential for an offshore wind project that would be situated at least 10 miles off the Rockaway Peninsula. As GlobeSt.com previously reported, the State is looking into developing new sources of renewable energy , including off-shore windfarms.

This project, which originated from Gov. Paterson’s Renewable Energy Task Force, could provide significant market development benefits to the wind industry, create clean-tech jobs, and help diversify the State’s electricity system, according to a prepared statement. “In addition, any project resulting from this work could demonstrate that we can meet the State’s energy supply needs in an environmentally sound manner while benefiting the State’s economy by reducing dependence on imported energy.”

The Governor’s Renewable Energy Task Force was created to identify barriers to increased production of renewable energy, recommending policies and financial incentives to overcome those barriers, and identify future markets where additional research and development investment is necessary. The Task Force issued its first report in February 2007, which contained several recommendations for increasing the State’s renewable energy supply, including this project.