New York’s Wind Power industry received a federal court ruling Monday that ends a barrier imposed by the White House on new energy projects.That decision could boost the state’s renewable energy goals … and the economy.
In her ruling, U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris of the District of Massachusetts called the logic given for suspending wind energy permits, “arbitrary and capricious.” In other words, the White House Administration’s order had no bases, other than citing, what the judge called,"vague deficiencies,"and"potential inadequacies,"in as many as 500 major stalled energy projects. That included two utility-scale, off-shore wind projects here in New York.
The power from those wind farms is critical to meeting energy needs.
“We have an extremely strong wind resource located just off of our coast," said Jana Herndon with the state’s Energy Development Authority,“ And as a result, we have the ability to capture that energy and transmit it to areas of highest demand, that would be New York City and Long Island. So, it's locally produced, clean renewable energy where it's needed most.”
Herndon added that it’s not just electricity. The wind-power industry is expected to create as many as 10,000 jobs involved with constructing and keeping the facilities, including a major staging and assembly facility in South Brooklyn.
State Attorney General Letitia James helped bring the lawsuit challenging the executive order.
“We need more energy sources, not fewer,” she demanded, and calledthe order a “reckless and unlawful crusade against clean energy.”
Other reactions were swift.Leadership at theNew York Offshore Wind Alliance and at theAlliance for Clean Energy praised the decision and said it ensures the future for wind power projects, allowing proposals to be judged on their merits, without political influence or interference.
