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Dozens of CA events this weekend honor Latino Conservation Week; Kamala Harris joins Oprah Winfrey in emotional campaign event; Report finds poor working conditions in Texas clean energy industry; AI puts on a lab coat, heads to technical schools.

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Rising threats of political violence, a Federal Reserve rate cut, crypto industry campaign contributions and reproductive rights are shaping today's political landscape.

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A USDA report shows a widening gap in rural versus urban health, a North Carolina county remains divided over a LGBTQ library display, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz' policies are spotlighted after his elevation to the Democratic presidential ticket.

Offshore Auction a Big Step Forward for Renewable Energy

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Friday, October 28, 2016   

ALBANY, N.Y. – It's being hailed as a a milestone for wind energy in New York, with the release of a Final Sale Notice for the lease auction of almost 80,000 acres off the shores of Long Island. The federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has named 14 qualified bidders for the auction to be held on December 15th.

Liz Gordon, director of the New York Offshore Wind Alliance, said once developed, the area will represent the equivalent of a major power plant, launching a new era in offshore wind power.

"People are talking about the potential for 800 megawatts," she said. "This is tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of homes that are potentially powered by this one spot."

The first U.S. offshore wind farm is scheduled to go into operation off Block Island next month, generating just 30 megawatts of power.

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority will be bidding on the site. According to Gordon, if successful, 'NYSERDA' would do the necessary preliminary studies, then accept bids from developers for the actual construction.

"So, it's sort of using a European model, where the state takes on a predevelopment role that reduces risk, and makes it even more appealing as a site for offshore wind power development," Gordon explained.

The United States lags far behind Europe in developing offshore wind.

The site also will be critical to meeting the goals of New York's Clean Energy Standard. And Gordon said the area going up for auction in December is just the beginning. Next year, the state will complete its Offshore Wind Master Plan.

"The Offshore Wind Master Plan will drive forward the development of this incredible resource, not just in this one wind energy area, but in a vast area that could contain a number of different wind energy areas," she added.

NYSERDA estimates that wind turbines in Atlantic waters could eventually generate up to 39 gigawatts of clean power for the state, enough to power 15 million homes.


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