New York governor calls on Interior Secretary to lease more wind energy areas

New York governor Andrew Cuomo has urged US Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to delineate and lease at least four new wind energy areas recommended by the state's Offshore Wind Master Plan, which was released in January.

The call was made in a letter issued on Thursday. Cuomo wants the Interior Secretary to support the state's efforts towards achieving its goal of developing 2.4 GW of offshore wind by 2030. New York plans to procure at least an additional 800 MW by 2019.

The letter enclosed the state's comments on the Department of Interior Bureau of Ocean Energy Management's (BOEM) Call for Information and Nominations to obtain nominations from companies interested in commercial wind energy leases within the proposed area in the New York Bight. The comment period closed on Thursday.

"Let me be clear: our commitment to offshore wind is smarter, cleaner, and safer than the frightening federal proposal to allow offshore drilling," the governor says in the letter. "Instead of trying to revive the fossil fuel industry, I call on you to join us in our efforts to build a 21st century clean energy economy," he adds.

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