New York’s Public Service Commission has stopped the project that would bring offshore wind power to New York City.
Gas and electric utility customers would pay for the costs of the transmission lines to transport wind power that doesn’t exist, leaving them vulnerable to rate hikes, especially due to Trump’s decision to block the issuance of new permits for offshore wind projects.
In 2023, the commission decided to construct new power lines to deliver at least 4,770MW of offshore wind energy to New York City by 2033. That project has now been cancelled.
After the New York Independent System Operator started the search in April last year for companies to build the power lines, 28 proposals arrived at their address from four different companies with offers ranging from $7.9bn to $23.9bn.
“We will continue to press forward regarding infrastructure needs for offshore wind in the future once the federal government resumes leasing and permitting for wind energy generation projects,” said PSC chair Rory Christian.
The original 2023 plan was supposed to meet the climate goal of 9GW from wind by 2035. But without government support, they can’t know what design or plans to use for the power lines.
