We welcome the outcome of this week’s largest ever auction of offshore wind development rights together with our partners! The award of 6 new leases areas offshore New York City and New Jersey by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Managements(BOEM), within an area known the New York Bight, creates the conditions for a multibillion-dollar investment in renewable energy projects and domestic supply chain. Regional ports and harbors will also be available. This will help address the climate crisis and create thousands of good union jobs.
The culmination of many years of analysis and stakeholder engagement, including with maritime industries and nongovernmental organizations, and inter-agency cooperation to maximize offshore wind energy development in the New York Bight. This will also protect the ocean environment and ensure responsible development. BOEM incorporated stakeholder input, reducing the initial 2018 Call Areas by 72 percent to approximately 488,000 acre.
Today’s lease areas can hold at least 7 gigawatts clean wind energy. This is enough to power more than 2 million homes. This sale is a significant step towards fulfilling the Biden-Harris Administration’s promise of 30 GW offshore wind development by 2030. It also facilitates New York’s leading mandate of 9GW offshore wind by 2035.
