New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on April 25 announced the second solicitation for large-scale renewable energy projects under the New York Clean Energy Standard.
Among other things, the solicitation for up to 20 projects is expected to spur up to $1.5 billion in private investment and support 1.5 million megawatt-hours of renewable electricity per year.
It will also advance New York's commitment to secure 50 percent of the state's electricity from renewable sources by 2030, as called for under the Clean Energy Standard.
Cuomo’s office noted that the state is issuing this solicitation as the second in a series of major procurements that are expected to result in the development of dozens of large scale renewable energy projects by 2022 under the Clean Energy Standard.
“Community engagement and on-the-ground support is crucial for the successful development of renewable energy projects, and the RFP released today includes new standards and requirements for effective community outreach and planning,” a press release from Cuomo’s office said.
The solicitation, which was issued by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, encourages proposals that cost-effectively pair renewable energy with advanced energy storage technologies to help meet Cuomo's commitment to deploying 1,500 MW of energy storage by 2025.
Another new provision in the solicitation is ensuring that communities that would host successfully awarded projects are fully aware of the development process. Proposers will be required to show that they have engaged with those communities and have also started the associated permitting processes.
The new request for proposals supports NYSERDA's 2017 solicitation through which a $1.4 billion investment dedicated to renewable energy projects was announced earlier this year. That investment included 22 utility-scale solar farms, three wind farms and one hydroelectric project. One of the wind farms features an energy storage component, marking the first time a large-scale renewable energy project has done so in New York State.
The new RFP also builds upon a New York Power Authority solicitation announced last June in concert with NYSERDA's first solicitation, which will procure 1 million MWh. This investment in large-scale clean energy supply will further expand NYPA's leadership role as the state's largest supplier of renewable electricity, Cuomo’s office noted.
NYPA received more than 130 proposals from 51 clean energy developers in response to its RFP. NYPA plans to announce selected developers and customers once contracts are signed, which is expected to be this summer.
"Renewable energy is a priority for New York State,” said Gil Quiniones, President and CEO of NYPA. “With these latest sizeable investments in clean and green energy projects and jobs, we are making great progress toward Governor Cuomo's Clean Energy Standard. Through large-scale renewable projects, we are changing the energy landscape in New York, and ensuring that our energy mix is viable and affordable now and into the future."
Additional details about the NYSERDA RFP are available here.
