The creation of the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic Regional Transformative Partnership for Offshore Wind Energy Resources (SMART-POWER) provides a framework for the three states to cooperatively promote, develop and expand offshore wind energy and the accompanying industry supply chain and workforce. Specifically, the three states agree to form a SMART-POWER Leadership Team with representatives from each signatory jurisdiction that will work to streamline the development of regional offshore wind resources.

“Maryland has been leading the charge when it comes to real, bipartisan, common-sense solutions and we are proud to continue setting an example for the nation of bold environmental leadership,” said Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan. “Joining this multi-state partnership to expand offshore wind development will further our strong record of supporting responsible energy projects that provide jobs, clean air benefits, and energy independence.”

As Southeast and Mid-Atlantic states become a focus for offshore wind developers and supply chain companies, Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia recognize that the fast-growing, the global offshore wind industry has significant potential to drive economic development and job creation as well as reduce the emission of greenhouse gases and other harmful air pollutants. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the Atlantic Coast offshore wind project pipeline is estimated to support up to 86,000 jobs, $57 billion in investments, and provide up to $25 billion in economic output by 2030.

“Offshore wind development combined with our strong solar capacity will bring more high-paying, clean energy jobs to North Carolina while we continue to ramp up our fight against climate change,” said North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper. “This bipartisan agreement with neighboring states allows us to leverage our combined economic power and ideas to achieve cost-effective success.”

Through this partnership, the three states have committed to work together to increase regulatory certainty, encourage manufacturing of component parts, reduce project costs through supply chain development, share information and best practices and promote synergy between industry and the signatory jurisdictions.

“Harnessing the power of offshore wind is key to meeting the urgency of the climate crisis and achieving 100% clean energy by 2050,” said Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam. “Virginia is well-positioned to scale up offshore wind development with a 12-MW wind demonstration project already built off our coast. This agreement will help unlock our collective offshore wind resources and generate tremendous economic and environmental benefits for the region. We look forward to working with our partners in Maryland and North Carolina to grow the offshore wind industry and secure a cleaner, healthier and more resilient future.”

Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia have access to vast resources and assets, such as deepwater ports and transportation infrastructure, top-tier universities and research institutions and highly trained workforces to support the offshore wind industry and supply chain efficiently develop along the Atlantic Coast.

The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) issued the following statement after Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia together announced a three-state collaboration to become a hub for the offshore:

“We applaud this bipartisan move by Governors Hogan, Hooper and Northam to harness the employment and investment benefits that offshore wind development represents to their individual states and the whole region,” said Laura Morton, senior director of policy and regulatory affairs for offshore wind, AWEA. “By adding multi-state coordination to their individual efforts, the three states will be able to move forward more efficiently to develop their infrastructure and local supply chains to unleash this brand-new American energy industry and the jobs and investments that come with it. The offshore wind industry stands ready to support the states as we work together to bring clean, reliable and affordable power to communities in the U.S. Southeast and Mid-Atlantic.”

News item from SMART-POWER

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Located in Roxbury, Maine, the RoxWind project is contracted to sell electricity through long-term offtake agreements with four local municipal utilities. The project is expected to reach COD in Q3 2021.

“We are thrilled to continue expanding the scale and geographic diversity of our wind fleet as we acquire our first Maine-based wind facility,” said Charles Wheeler, CEO of Greenbacker. “It has been a pleasure working with the Palmer team on this deal and we look forward to continuing to work with them and the Town of Roxbury through the construction and start-up phases of the project.”

With the addition of RoxWind, Greenbacker will own approximately 543.1 MW of generating capacity (including assets that are to be constructed), comprising 192.5 MW of wind facilities, 338.6 MW of utility-scale and distributed solar facilities and 12 MW of biomass facilities.

“This has been a cooperative effort with our Maine and Massachusetts partners, Horseshoe Valley Wind and Solaya Energy, as well as the Town of Roxbury which has been supportive of our efforts to bring a small wind farm on line in Roxbury,” said Gordon Deane, president of Palmer. “We expect this transaction to be the first of many with Greenbacker as they expand their portfolio of renewable energy projects.”

News item from Greenbacker Renewable Energy

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View ACE NY’s new video in support of retaining renewables in New York here.

The Alliance for Clean Energy New York (ACE NY) has released a new video promoting the retainment of existing renewable energy resources in New York State.

The video is adding to the chorus of voices supporting the NY Renewables Protection Act (S.23/A.4294) to keep existing renewable resources in state, especially in light of the ambitious new clean energy goals established by the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.

“To reach 70% renewables, New York needs to both build new renewable energy projects, and keep the ones we have,” said Anne Reynolds, Executive Director of ACE NY. “The best way to retain existing renewable facilities is laid out in the New York Renewables Protection Act that was passed by both the NYS Assembly and NYS Senate during the 2019 Legislative Session.”

ACE NY and many other organizations have sent letters to Governor Cuomo urging him to support this important piece of legislation. Here are just a few:

• ACE NY
• Brookfield Renewables
• Columbia Law School (Sabin Center for Climate Change Law)
• Enel Green Power
• Environmental Advocates of New York
• Gravity Renewables Inc.
• New York Farm Bureau
• ReEnergy Holdings LLC
• Sierra Club

These powerful organizations think renewable energy made in New York should stay in New York to help us reach 70%. Without passage of this bill, New York’s fleet of existing renewables is at risk of shutting down or exporting their renewable energy attributes to other markets. We urge Governor Cuomo to sign this bill when it is sent from the Legislature.

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