Offshore Wind Deployment in the U.S. and Germany: Lessons Learned from Expert Delegation Trip to Germany and Bilateral Knowledge Exchange

Offshore Wind Deployment in the U.S. and Germany: Lessons Learned from Expert Delegation Trip to Germany and Bilateral Knowledge Exchange

By Fred Zalcman

This June, I had the privilege of joining a delegation of U.S representatives to Germany, at the invitation of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, and organized by the German Renewable Academy, for a dialogue on our shared interest in the global development of offshore wind. This meeting comes on the heels of the Biden Administration Special Envoy, John Kerry’s, recent visit to Germany for the G7 Climate, Energy, and Environment Ministerial meeting, where the two countries signed a joint declaration of partnership in the development of offshore wind and hydrogen.

Offshore Wind: A New York Success Story In the Making

Offshore Wind: A New York Success Story In the Making

By Fred Zalcman

New York’s offshore wind program is a shining success story. The program is well on its way, with nearly half of the capacity needed to meet our nation’s leading goal of 9 GW by 2035 already procured and under development; with the possibility that this goal will be fully addressed with the next solicitation. These investments are already paying dividends. Ports and harbors from Long Island to the Capitol District are abuzz with activity, modernizing these important assets to meet the specialized and diverse needs of the offshore wind industry.

Public Hearings on the Draft Climate Action Plan - Statement by NYOWA Director, Fred Zalcman

Public Hearings on the Draft Climate Action Plan - Statement by NYOWA Director, Fred Zalcman

New York’s offshore wind program is a shining success story. The program is well on its way, with nearly half of the capacity needed to meet our nation’s leading goal of 9 GW by 2035 already procured and under development; with the possibility that this goal will be fully addressed with the next solicitation.

Energy Revolution is in the Air - Op-Ed by Director Fred Zalcman in Empire Report

Energy Revolution is in the Air - Op-Ed by Director Fred Zalcman in Empire Report

Op-Ed from Director Fred Zalcman from Empire Report

When one thinks of places that have changed the course of industry, Wellsville New York is not generally cited as among them. However, it is precisely in this hamlet of 4,600 people, situated 85 miles from Buffalo, that one of the greatest revolutions in energy development and commerce is occurring.

A Climate Week NYC To Remember!

By Anne Reynolds

Four years ago, when ACE NY held our first event for Climate Week NYC, we had a great breakfast and excellent discussion (Remember the topic? Access to clean energy for low-income New Yorkers), but the rest of the world didn’t pay all that much attention to Climate Week.

Not so 2021! Yes, we had a great event: Offshore Wind, Ports, and Job Creation, co-hosted by our friends at NRDC, NYCP, and E2, and we also released a new offshore wind ports video to mark the week. We were happy to have speakers from the City of Albany, UPROSE in Brooklyn, Equinor, and The Business Network for Offshore wind to really dig into the question of how port development to support the offshore wind industry can also urban communities.

Wood Mackenzie Offshore Wind Study – A Promising Look to the Future

Wood Mackenzie Offshore Wind Study – A Promising Look to the Future

By Joe Martens

A new study released on August 4th by international energy consultants Wood Mackenzie took a look at the economic benefits, including job-creation, of offshore wind development in the United States. The study was commissioned by the New York Offshore Wind Alliance (NYOWA), American Wind Energy Association, the National Ocean Industry Association and the University of Delaware, Special Initiative on Offshore Wind. The study looks at what could be if the Bureau of Offshore Energy Management (BOEM) moves ahead with the designation of wind energy areas (WEAs) and leasing in the New York Bight, off the Carolina coast, in the Gulf of Maine and in the Pacific off the coast of California. The results are eye popping, especially in states that have aggressive renewable standards, like New York.

Hundreds Turn Out for Transmission Town Hall

Hundreds Turn Out for Transmission Town Hall

By Jeff Jones

Achieving New York’s ambitions clean energy goals will new require upgrades to the state’s electric power transmission grid. This was the theme of ACE NY’s recent virtual event: Clean Energy and Transmission Town Hall. The June 25th webinar featured a new video, welcoming introduction by Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee Chair Kevin Parker, and a keynote by newly appointed Deputy Secretary for Energy and Environment Ali Zaidi. A panel discussion moderated by ACE NY Executive Director Anne Reynolds followed, with an active question and answer session.

Social and Racial Injustice, the Green New Deal, and Our Work on Clean Energy

Social and Racial Injustice, the Green New Deal, and Our Work on Clean Energy

Recent events have left our nation reeling. On top of a pandemic that has taken more than 100,000 lives and left millions jobless, the senseless killing of George Floyd and the subsequent protests and demonstrations have left us all searching for answers. Both tragedies have disproportionately impacted people of color and have put a spotlight on our country’s racism. We believe Black Lives Matter and policing and a host of other institutions in America need fundamental reforms. No matter where we live or work, we should all be asking ourselves what we are doing, as individuals, as communities, as businesses, and as organizations to address longstanding social and racial injustices.

Joe Martens Message to NYOWA Members

Joe Martens Message to NYOWA Members

On behalf of all of us at the Alliance for Clean Energy New York and the New York Offshore Wind Alliance, I hope this message finds you safe and well. It is an extraordinarily trying time and our lives have been changed dramatically. No one has been more impacted than the frontline workers in the health care industry, including first responders, in grocery stores, in mass transit and in many other sectors of the economy that are all too often taken for granted. We thank them for their steadfastness, courage and sacrifice. And we recognize and understand the hardships caused to those working in our renewable energy industry.

Opinion: COVID is a Reason to Double Down on the Green Economy

Opinion: COVID is a Reason to Double Down on the Green Economy

By Anne Reynolds

This Opinion piece first ran in City Limits, March 20, 2020

ACE NY Director Anne Reynolds has written an important blog making the connection between the current COVID-19 pandemic and the need to reform the siting and permitting of renewable energy projects. It’s important for the NY Legislature and the Governor to reach agreement on these reforms now, in the state budget, for a number of reasons. First, renewable energy projects will provide a badly needed economic boost to New York’s economy once the pandemic has passed and second, renewable energy will help reduce air pollution that adversely impacts vulnerable populations who suffer from asthma and other respiratory illnesses. Finally, the development of renewable energy will help fight climate change, the ultimate threat to the planet.

Governor Cuomo’s State of the State Speech – Making Progress Happen -- ACE NY and NYOWA Clean Energy Highlights

Governor Cuomo’s State of the State Speech – Making Progress Happen -- ACE NY and NYOWA Clean Energy Highlights

The Governor kicked off the speech on the need for action on climate change, a great sign. He announced a proposed $3B Restore Mother Nature bond act, the major news on the environment side. Parts 2 and 3 of the State of the State Book focus on energy issues. Here are some highlights related to ACE and NYOWA priorities.

Time to Get to Work

Time to Get to Work

I’ve had a long career in the environmental arena. I’ve worked in the legislature, at the Adirondack Park Agency, the Open Space Institute and at the helm of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. I have helped craft and witnessed the passage of lots of progressive environmental laws. But passage of the “Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act” has me speechless.

Martens/Reynolds Letter Raises Concern about de Blasio Clean Energy Strategy

Martens/Reynolds Letter Raises Concern about de Blasio Clean Energy Strategy

After a five-year wait for details, Mayor de Blasio's Earth Day announcement that New York City would achieve its clean energy goals through a contract with Hydro-Quebec left a lot to be desired. ACENY Executive Director Anne Reynolds and NYOWA Director Joe Martens responded to the mayor's announcement with a letter of concern, noting a number of flaws in the plan.

WIND + US: ACE NY and NYOWA Have Been Out of Town

WIND + US: ACE NY and NYOWA Have Been Out of Town

Half of the ACE NY and NYOWA staff spent the past week in Houston, Texas, at the annual AWEA WINDPOWER2019 conference, which had a theme of Wind +. Between tacos and baseball games, we did find the time to listen, learn, and talk about all of the exciting trends in wind power across the United States. There were many moments of inspiration and some great advice about how to better do our work in New York. This year’s buzzword: hybrid. Another change: offshore wind is definitely and fully in the mainstream, no longer a side conversation at WINDPOWER.

Landmark Offshore Wind Agreement Protects Right Whales

One of the Atlantic Ocean’s most majestic and most endangered species will be provided new protections under an unprecedented agreement between three environmental groups and Vineyard Wind. The offshore wind developer, which has proposed a large-scale offshore wind project 14 miles south of Martha’s Vineyard, agreed to protect the highly endangered North Atlantic right whale during the construction and operation of the project, which will be the first commercial-scale offshore wind facility in the U.S. (More information on the project area can be viewed here.)