Expedited Renewable Energy Solicitations Launched As Part of Governor Hochul’s 10-Point Action Plan

SOURCE:

https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/About/Newsroom/2023-Announcements/2023-11-30-NYSERDA-Announces-Launch-of-Expedited-Renewable-Energy-Solicitations

November 30, 2023

Proposals for Offshore Wind and Land-Based Renewable Projects Due in January 2024

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) today announced the launch of expedited renewable energy solicitations as part of New York’s 10-Point Action Plan to bolster the State’s growing large-scale renewable industry. Final proposals for both offshore wind and land-based renewable projects are due in January 2024. These expedited solicitations support progress toward achieving New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (Climate Act) goals to obtain 70% of New York’s electricity from renewable sources by 2030 and develop 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind by 2035.

Doreen M. Harris, President and CEO, NYSERDA said, “These expedited solicitations will continue to build upon our momentum toward achieving a zero-emissions electric grid. We welcome into this competitive process all developers who are committed and eager to participate in New York's energy transition, and we look forward to working together to deliver significant economic, public health, and grid reliability benefits to New York State.”

The solicitations, initially announced  by Governor Hochul earlier this month, encourage all project developers, including those that previously petitioned the New York State Public Service Commission for financial relief and new market entrants to compete in the solicitation process, ensuring the integrity of the State’s competitive procurement process and best value for New Yorkers. As part of these solicitations, NYSERDA included key provisions from the latest rounds of renewable energy procurements such as inflation indexing, labor provisions, stakeholder engagement requirements, disadvantaged community commitments, agricultural land preservation, and related priorities to maintain the policy objectives introduced in prior solicitations to ensure an equitable energy transition that benefits all New Yorkers.

NYSERDA is streamlining these expedited solicitations by selectively removing certain bid requirements that historically required substantial efforts to develop, but provided nominal value in bid evaluations. The full breadth of these modifications is outlined within the solicitation documents.

Offshore Wind Solicitation

Final proposals for the offshore wind solicitation will need to be submitted by January 25, 2024, with award announcements expected to be made in February 2024.

Details on the offshore wind solicitation are available on the Offshore Wind Solicitation page on NYSERDA’s website.

Land-Based Renewables Solicitation

The process for submitting proposals into the land-based renewables solicitation will be conducted in two steps, with eligibility requirements due on December 21, 2023 to confirm that interested projects are eligible to bid, and final proposals due on January 31, 2024. Award announcements are expected by the end of April 2024.

More details on the land-based renewable energy solicitation are available on the Tier 1 Solicitation page  on NYSERDA’s website.

These expedited solicitations will build on the momentum established by the Governor’s announcement last month of the largest state investment in renewable energy in United States history. The conditional awards included three offshore wind and 22 land-based renewable energy projects totaling 6.4 gigawatts of clean energy, enough to power 2.6 million New York homes and deliver approximately 12% of New York’s electricity needs once completed. When coupled with two marquee offshore wind blade and nacelle manufacturing facilities, New York’s latest round of awarded projects is expected to create approximately 8,300 family-sustaining jobs and spur $20 billion in economic development investments statewide, including developer-committed investments to support disadvantaged communities.

New York State Department of Labor Commissioner and Climate Action Council Member Roberta Reardon said: “The expedited process announced by NYSERDA not only accelerates a greener New York but also builds on our continued effort to expand workforce development. By streamlining the process and encouraging a broader range of competitors, we are not only upholding the values of equity and inclusivity in our energy sector but also ensuring that we are on track to meet our Climate Act goals.”

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos said, "The solicitations announced by NYSERDA today will advance New York's sustained efforts to transition to cleaner energy sources and help meet the state’s aggressive goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, provisions included in these expedited solicitations will help advance climate justice by prioritizing present-day challenges like inflation and reconfirming the State’s commitments to disadvantaged communities and environmental protection."

New York State Department of Ag and Markets Commissioner Richard Ball said, “The agricultural community has long been at the table in the discussion of protecting and preserving the natural resources that sustain us. Transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy is a critical and urgent piece of this puzzle, and the solicitations announced today mark a huge step forward in strengthening New York's clean energy development and meeting the climate goals that will help preserve our land for generations to come.”

Alliance for Clean Energy New York Executive Director Anne Reynolds said, “The renewable energy industry is encouraged by New York’s speedy issuance of solicitations for renewable energy projects, both offshore wind power and land-based wind and solar power, knowing that companies are looking forward to competing for these contracts. Moving ahead with projects will bring construction jobs, local tax revenue, and clean electricity. I applaud New York’s fast action, because this sense of urgency is exactly what is needed to bring infrastructure projects to construction and achieve clean energy and climate goals.”

New York Offshore Wind Alliance Director Fred Zalcman said, "NYSERDA's issuance today of a major solicitation, providing market-based offtake opportunities for both early and advanced stage offshore wind projects, offers crucial and timely support for New York's rapidly developing clean energy economy. Actions speak louder than words, and we applaud the Hochul Administration for providing, through this expedited RFP, a clear and unambiguous statement of support for offshore wind as an essential part of New York's evolution towards a carbon-free grid."

New York League of Conservation Voters President Julie Tighe said, “In order for New York to green the grid and meet our CLCPA goals, we can’t just talk about clean energy, we need to get projects in the queue as soon as possible. NYLCV applauds Governor Hochul for expediting the next round of solicitations for offshore wind and land-based large scale renewable energy projects and helping ensure New York remains a national leader in the fight against climate change.”

New York State AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento said, “We applaud Governor Hochul and NYSERDA on the publication of expedited offshore wind and land-based renewable energy RFPs. The projects built pursuant to these RFPs will be subject to precedent-setting statutory labor standards and protections. We thank Governor Hochul for her commitment to ensuring that New York’s clean energy future is built, operated, maintained, repaired, and manufactured by workers who earn good wages, and enjoy the benefits and protections guaranteed by union contracts.”

New York State Building Trades President Gary LaBarbera said, “If New York is going to meet the standard-setting climate goals set out by the CLCPA, we must get moving on key green infrastructure projects that will not only set us apart in renewable energy creation, but also generate thousands of good-paying, family sustaining union careers for hard working New Yorkers. This is why we applaud the expedition of solicitations for offshore wind and land-based renewable projects as we head into 2024. The submission and selection of proposals is an important first step in getting these crucial initiatives off the ground and unlocking a clean energy future that will improve the lives of all New Yorkers today and for future generations as we build a healthy environment to live and thrive in. Our tradesmen and tradeswomen look forward to driving forward these projects as they pursue the paths to the middle class forged by the unions worker who came before them.”

Citizens Campaign for the Environment Executive Director Adrienne Esposito said, “Transitioning to renewable energy and moving away from fossil fuels is a challenge, but New York is up for that challenge! Today’s announcement marks another important leap forward with an aggressive and strategic plan to bolster renewable energy development, and wean us off of dirty fossil fuel power plants. The public supports cleaner air and fighting climate change, and this transition will help achieve both important objectives. We commend Governor Hochul and NYSERDA for continuing to take the bold actions necessary to move New York towards a renewable energy future.”

New York State's Nation-Leading Climate Plan

New York State's nation-leading climate agenda calls for an orderly and just transition that creates family-sustaining jobs, continues to foster a green economy across all sectors and ensures that at least 35%, with a goal of 40%, of the benefits of clean energy investments are directed to disadvantaged communities. Guided by some of the nation’s most aggressive climate and clean energy initiatives, New York is on a path to achieving a zero-emission electricity sector by 2040, including 70% renewable energy generation by 2030, and economywide carbon neutrality by mid-century. A cornerstone of this transition is New York's unprecedented clean energy investments, including more than $55 billion in 145 large-scale renewable and transmission projects across the state, $6.8 billion to reduce building emissions, $3.3 billion to scale up solar, more than $1 billion for clean transportation initiatives, and over $2 billion in NY Green Bank commitments. These and other investments are supporting more than 165,000 jobs in New York’s clean energy sector in 2021 and over 3,000% growth in the distributed solar sector since 2011. To reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality, New York also adopted zero-emission vehicle regulations, including requiring all new passenger cars and light-duty trucks sold in the State be zero emission by 2035. Partnerships are continuing to advance New York’s climate action with nearly 400 registered and more than 100 certified Climate Smart Communities, nearly 500 Clean Energy Communities, and the State’s largest community air monitoring initiative in 10 disadvantaged communities across the state to help target air pollution and combat climate change.