The New York Power Authority is seeking proposals from wind developers to build as many as 100 or more offshore wind turbines in Lake Ontario or Lake Erie, a project that could create North America’s first offshore wind farm. Among the prime areas targeted for development is the eastern shore of Lake Ontario, roughly from Oswego to Cape Vincent, where the power authority’s research found excellent winds, according to a report today in the Syracuse Post Standard. Parts of eastern Lake Erie and southern Lake Ontario also are potential sites.
Not only will this represent the first initiative in the Great Lakes, it will be the first wind power development of any kind in a fresh water body in the nation.
NYPA’s request for proposals for the development of a utility scale, offshore wind power project in the range of 120 megawatts (MW) to 500 MW will also offer the winning bidder or bidders a long-term contract to sell up to 500 megawatts of electricity to the power authority. A contract with NYPA would enable developers to finance the project, which could cost $1 billion or more.
The project would interconnect with new or existing transmission facilities of the appropriate regional electric utilities, which are all controlled by the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO). The NYISO operates New York's bulk electricity grid and administers the state's wholesale electricity markets. The Power Authority would purchase the full output of the project under a long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).
NYPA anticipates the following deadlines for the RFP process. The date for submitting an optional Notice of Intent to submit a proposal is March 20, 2010. Questions about the RFP will be accepted until April 9, 2010. The due date for proposals is June 1, 2010. Any winning project(s) would be expected to be awarded by December 2010. The target date for completion of the PPA negotiations is May 31, 2011.
Prospective developers are requested to periodically check the NYPA Web site (www.nypa.gov) to see if there are any modifications to the dates.
Do you know the top Top states for wind capacity (in megawatts - MW)?
Source: US Department of Energy, 2009
Texas 8203 MW
Iowa 2862 MW
California 2668 MW
Washington 1504 MW
Oregon 1435 MW
New York 1274 MW
