offshore-wind-energyThe New York Power Authority (NYPA) released a request for proposals (RFP) for the development of offshore wind power projects in the New York State waters of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.

by Chris de Morsella, Green Economy Post

In order to begin reducing New York State’s dependence on fossil fuel for electric generation and to expand industrial economic development opportunities in upstate New York, the New York Power Authority (NYPA) is soliciting proposals for the development of utility scale (120 MW to 500 MW) wind generating projects in New York State waters of Lake Erie and/or Lake Ontario. These projects will interconnect with new or existing transmission facilities of the appropriate regional electric utilities, which are all controlled by the New York Independent System Operator. The Authority will purchase the full output of the these offshore wind power projects under a long term Power Purchase Agreement (“PPA”).

The release of this RFP has followed several months of outreach to community and business leaders, local and state officials, environmentalists and the general public, whose feedback was incorporated into the document. NYPA had announced the major public-private initiative for the potential development of wind power projects in the New York State waters of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario in April.

Proposals are due on June 1, 2010, and the NYPA plans to select a winning project by December 2010.

Project Site Selection Is Being Finalized

The Authority has conducted preliminary wind resource studies, site screening studies, environmental studies and other technical studies with respect to the New York waters of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario to investigate potentially feasible locations for siting Projects. The Authority will post pertinent information from technical studies related to this matter on the Authority Web site as such information becomes available. Respondents are encouraged to regularly check the Authority Web site for these studies.

Links to RFP and Supporting Documents

* Great Lakes Offshore Wind Project Request for Proposals.pdf (printer-friendly) version and htm version

* Exhibit A – maps of Lake Erie (description of map) and Lake Ontario (description of map)

* Exhibit B Power Purchase Agreement

* Exhibit C – “New York Power Authority – Appendix J – Policy Providing for Certain Procurement Disclosure” – also available in .pdf (printer-friendly) version

* Exhibit D – RFP Datasheet available in .pdf (printer-friendly) version and downloadable Microsoft Excel fill-in version

PLEASE NOTE: Potential bidders are advised to register, view and download the RFP document from this link – http://www.nypa.gov/ppa/login.aspx – in order to receive updates by e-mail as they are issued.

For more information on the Great Lakes Offshore Wind Project, contact us at NYPAWindPower@nypa.gov.

About the New York Power Authority (NYPA)

The New York Power Authority (“Authority”) is a corporate municipal instrumentality and political subdivision of the State of New York that provides low-cost electricity to governmental agencies, municipal electric systems, rural electric cooperatives, manufacturers and to investor-owned utilities for resale without profit to retail customers across New York State.

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Author: Chris de Morsella (146 Articles)

After a decade performing as a lead guitarist for rock bands, Chris de Morsella decided to return to the career his uncle mentored him in as a youth....Software Engineering. Since that time he has thrown himself into his work. He has designed a compound document publishing architecture for regulatory submissions capable of handling very large multi-document FDA regulatory drug approval submissions, for Liquent, a division of Thompson Publishing. At the Associated Press, Chris worked with senior editors at facilities around the world, to develop a solution for replacing existing editorial systems with an integrated international content management solution. He lead the design effort at Microsoft for a help system for mobile devices designed to provide contextual help for users. Chris also helped to develop the web assisted installer for LifeCam2.0, the software for Microsoft’s web cam and developed late breaking features for the product He also served with the Rhapsody client team to redesign and build a major new release of Real Networks Rhapsody client product. His most recent assignment has been Working with the Outlook Mobile Time Management team for the next release of Outlook Mobile for the SmartPhone. Chris' interests are in green building and architecture, smart grid, the cloud, geo-thermal energy, solar energy, smart growth, organic farming and permaculture. Follow Chris on Twitter.