Up to US$200m will be made available to upgrade a US state’s port infrastructure to support the expanding offshore wind industry.
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), Empire State Development (ESD), and the New York Department of Transportation (DOT) has announced the issuance of a Request for Qualifications (RFQL) seeking proposals for pre-qualification from port operators and market participants who are interested in upgrading and investing in New York ports to support the state’s wind industry.
This opportunity comes with the expectation that ports will unlock billions in long-term local economic develop potential and will be serving as a hub for the broader northeast region’s offshore wind industry.
Alicia Barton, president and CEO of NYSERDA, said: “With the 13th largest economy in the world, a wealth of existing port infrastructure, and the largest commitment to offshore wind in the nation, New York is uniquely positioned to be the epicenter of this exciting new industry in the U.S.”
She added that the “announcement is a major step in advancing the next generation of infrastructure upgrades needed for New York’s ports to support this growing industry while helping us reach economies of scale faster, develop a domestic supply chain more quickly and efficiently, and utilize ports and support developments all along the East Coast”.
This RFQL is the first step in a two-phase process through which New York seeks to pre-qualify proposers and then competitively select proposals for public-private investment opportunities in port infrastructure. Only those proposers who are pre-qualified under this RFQL will be eligible to participate in a subsequent competitive solicitation for up to US$200m to be issued in 2020.
The offshore wind initiative for ports sits alongside the state’s Green New Deal goal to develop 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind by 2035.
