Published on February 15th, 2019 | by Joshua S Hill February 15th, 2019 by Joshua S Hill US offshore wind development company Vineyard Wind announced a new 1,200 megawatt (MW) offshore wind project proposal on Thursday called “Liberty Wind” in response to the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority’s (NYSERDA) solicitation of offshore wind project proposals. The 30 MW Block Island Offshore Wind Farm, the United States (currently) only offshore wind project. Vineyard Wind, the company behind the eponymously-named 800 MW offshore wind project off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard and already contracted to supply power to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, announced this week that it had submitted a new offshore wind project proposal to the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) in response to its solicitation of offshore wind project proposals to supply New York with clean energy. The new Liberty Wind proposal includes project size options of 400 MW, 800 MW, and 1,200 MW — with the 1,200 MW project described as “the most cost-effective option for New York ratepayers” and “one of the largest offshore wind projects in the world.” The proposal will also likely benefit from New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s January-announced plans to increase the state’s offshore wind target to 9 gigawatts (GW) by 2035. The 1,200 MW Liberty Wind project would be able to generate enough power to supply the needs of over 750,000 New York homes and go a long way to meeting the State’s renewable energy goals. “Our team’s extensive offshore wind experience from around the world and nearby in New England, where we are building the nation’s first utility-scale offshore wind project, allows us to deliver the best project for New York,” said Lars Thaaning Pedersen, CEO of Vineyard Wind. “Liberty Wind will bring clean energy at the lowest price to New York ratepayers along with substantial economic benefits for the state through investments in local infrastructure and businesses and by utilizing the state’s existing supply chain and workforce.” The proposal would see the project built 85 miles offshore from the nearest New York shoreline, far enough out that it would not be visible from land, and would be connected to an existing Long Island substation via a submarine cable that would come to shore and be buried along an existing roadway onshore. Vineyard Wind is collaborating with Massachusetts-based transmission developer Anbaric Development Partners, a company which has already spearheaded the development of two transmission projects serving New York. “Anbaric is delighted to be teaming up with Vineyard Wind on the Liberty Wind Project,” said Anbaric CEO Ed Krapels. “Our buried cable will bring renewable power into the heart of the Long Island electric grid, where it can be distributed to hundreds of thousands of customers in southern New York. This is the first leg of a well-designed New York ocean grid for offshore wind that will help achieve Governor Cuomo’s goal of building a planned offshore grid.” Vineyard Wind is an offshore wind development company that is 50% owned by funds of Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners and 50% owned by Avangrid Renewables, part of the IBERDROLA Group. “AWEA is encouraged by the offshore wind sector’s strong momentum going into 2019,” said Nancy Sopko, Director, Offshore Policy & Siting at the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). “Offshore wind projects have the potential to create thousands of new jobs for coastal communities while moving New York closer to its goal of tapping 9 gigawatts (GW) of its renewable offshore wind resource. No matter which company wins this solicitation, the state’s workers and consumers are the real winners.” Tags: Anbaric, Anbaric Development Partners, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Liberty Wind, Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, New York, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, NYSERDA, Vineyard Wind Joshua S Hill I'm a Christian, a nerd, a geek, and I believe that we're pretty quickly directing planet-Earth into hell in a handbasket! I also write for Fantasy Book Review (.co.uk), and can be found writing articles for a variety of other sites. Check me out at about.me for more.
Vineyard Wind has submitted plans for a 1.2 GW wind farm 85 miles off New York’s coast, dubbed Liberty Wind. The joint venture between Avangrid Renewables, part of Iberdrola, and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners offered the proposal in response to New York State Energy Research and Development Authority’s call for offshore wind projects. Vineyard has also proposed 800 MW and 400 MW options, but claimed the larger size offers “the most cost-effective option for New York ratepayers”. It follows Governor Andrew Cuomo's January announcement to aim for 9 GW of offshore wind by 2035.