New York Bight Can Be a Milestone Moment in American Offshore Wind

New York Bight is a Watershed Moment for American Offshore Wind 

Washington, D.C. - National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA) President Erik Milito issued the following statement after the conclusion of the New York Bight offshore wind lease auction, which saw $4.37 billion in winning bids for six lease blocks offshore New York and New Jersey:

“The record-shattering interest in the New York Bight lease sale is testament to how bright the American offshore wind outlook is and how confident developers are in the strength of the U.S. offshore wind industry as a whole. Companies continue to invest and innovate, and the regulatory regime has a firm foundation. The New York Bight is a watershed moment for American offshore wind.

“Thousands of new jobs and billions of dollars of investment are now on the horizon for New York, New Jersey, and the entire U.S. supply chain as a result of this lease sale. We are already seeing an offshore wind substation and a wind installation vessel being built in Texas, an offshore wind service operation vessel being constructed in Louisiana, and transmission cables being manufactured in North Carolina and South Carolina, along with many other examples.

“In many ways, the New York Bight lease sale is just the kickoff for a busy 2022 for American offshore wind. We applaud the work done thus far by Interior and BOEM and say, 'Well done and keep up the momentum.' We can clearly see the demand for more leasing, and we encourage the Administration to sustain progress through continued lease sales and project approvals. Congress can - and should - play a positive role through expansion of key tax credits that will help incentivize projects from the leasing stage through operations.”