New York fund to nearly two dozen renewable energy projects, one in Queens
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Governor Kathy Hochul announced the largest state investment in clean energy in U.S history on Monday from Long Island City. Photo by Don Pollard/Office of Governor Hochul
By Ryan Schwach
Governor Kathy Hochul was in Queens this week to announce the largest state investment in clean energy in U.S history, introducing off-shore wind projects and several renewable energy projects across the Empire State – including one in Long Island City.
The funding the governor announced on Wednesday at the Electrical Industry Training Center in Long Island City will go to funding 22 renewable projects in regions across the state, and three offshore wind projects including one that is intended to benefit Queens.
“New York continues to set the pace for our nation’s transition to clean energy,” Hochul said. “An investment of this magnitude is about more than just fighting climate change – we’re creating good-paying union jobs, improving the reliability of our electric grid, and generating significant benefits in disadvantaged communities.”
“Today, we are taking action to keep New York’s climate goals within reach, demonstrating to the nation how to recalibrate in the wake of global economic challenges while driving us toward a greener and more prosperous future for generations to come,” she added.
Hochul said that she believes New York is setting the standard for fighting climate change, particularly amidst various natural issues like flooding and air quality, which have affected the state multiple times in just the last few months alone.
“We're not waiting any longer, this is an historic investment to demonstrate our full commitment to renewables and this form of energy,” she said. “We see what's already happening. Temperatures of the water are rising, sea levels are rising, and we've witnessed firsthand the storms are getting far more severe. I can't tell you how many emergency declarations I've had to issue in the two years I've been governor.”
The 22 land-based renewable energy projects are intended to total 6.4 gigawatts of clean energy, which the governor said will be enough to power 2.6 million New York homes and deliver approximately 12 percent of New York’s electricity needs. She also hopes the projects will create around 8,300 new jobs and spur $20 billion in economic development investments.
“We have a lot of work to do,” she said, setting out the state’s goal to make 70 percent of New York’s electricity renewable by 2030. “We have a strong commitment here in the State of New York, every other state is watching.”
Among the 22 renewable energy projects include mainly solar and wind energy facilities from the Finger Lakes, to Niagra to Mohawk Valley.
“This latest and largest round of large-scale renewable energy awards is further proof that New York is, and will continue to be, a place where the renewable energy sector can thrive,” said
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority President and CEO Doreen M. Harris. “This cohort of large-scale renewable energy projects reflect New York’s longstanding and ongoing priority to responsibly advance the most cost-competitive and economically viable clean energy projects in a manner that is timely and maximizes benefits for all New Yorkers.”
The three wind energy projects will mostly assist New York City and Long Island, and one of them will directly aid Queens.
The Attentive Energy One project, led by TotalEnergies, Rise Light & Power and Corio Generation, includes repurposing the Ravenswood Generating Station, a fossil-fuel burning facility. The governor’s office says the fossil fuel generation will be retired, and it will transition the current workforce to clean energy jobs.
That move was applauded by local elected officials.
"One key to achieving climate justice lies in our state making the investment to foster more renewable energy projects,” said Queens Representative Nydia Velázquez. “I am particularly excited at the prospect of transitioning New York City’s largest fossil fuel burning generating facility, the Ravenswood Generating Station, to ‘Renewable Ravenswood,’ a new clean energy operations and maintenance hub for offshore wind. This transition will help support our climate goals, generate new green union jobs, and benefit frontline environmental justice communities like those at Queensbridge and Ravenswood Houses.”
As part of the state’s renewable plans, the Ravenswood Generating Station in Queens will be repurposed for more renewable causes. File photo by King of Hearts/Wikimedia Commons
“These new offshore wind and land-based renewable energy projects will not only sustainably power our communities but also lower energy costs and create more jobs for working families,” she added.
During her remarks on Monday, Hochul gave particular credit to investments made by the Biden Administration, which allowed New York to make its own renewable energy allocations.
In turn, federal officials applauded New York’s renewable actions.
“The Department of Energy applauds the significant step that this announcement represents for building an offshore wind energy industry here in the U.S. that revitalizes domestic manufacturing and coastal economies, while advancing our clean energy future,” said
U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “New York is showing President Biden’s Investing in America agenda at work, and DOE looks forward to continued collaboration on project deployment, development of a robust domestic supply chain along with transmission development to help realize both our state and federal offshore wind goals.”
