New York State Halts Offshore Wind Infrastructure Development, Citing Federal Policy Conflicts and Impacting Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

The New York State Public Service Commission has officially halted a two-year plan to develop transmission lines for offshore wind power. The decision, attributed to “significant federal uncertainty” following a federal pause on offshore wind project permits, directly impedes the state’s progress toward several key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to clean energy, sustainable infrastructure, and climate action.

Impact on SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

The suspension represents a significant setback for achieving SDG 7, which aims to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all. Specific impacts include:

• The state’s goal of achieving 70% renewable energy by 2030 is now deemed “impossible in the near term” by the state energy regulator.
• This decision exacerbates existing delays, as a state report had already found New York to be three years behind its climate law schedule.
• Progress on developing a critical and affordable clean energy resource is now halted, locking in additional years of delay.

Implications for SDG 9 and SDG 11: Sustainable Infrastructure and Cities

The decision directly undermines SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by stopping the development of critical green infrastructure.

1. The terminated plan was designed to create transmission infrastructure capable of delivering offshore wind power to as many as 5 million homes in downstate New York.
2. The “strategic termination” of this lengthy process leaves the timeline for restarting the infrastructure project undefined.
3. Associated green energy projects, such as the Renewable Ravenswood plan to convert New York City’s largest power plant into a green energy hub, now face further delays.

Consequences for SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 17 (Partnerships)

The halt in development has broader consequences for climate action initiatives and highlights a failure in policy coherence between state and federal governing bodies, affecting SDG 13 and SDG 17.

• The state’s retreat from offshore wind development stalls a key strategy for climate change mitigation.
• The Public Service Commission’s action underscores a lack of partnership and alignment between state renewable energy goals and federal energy policy, a critical component of SDG 17.
• Advocacy groups, such as the Natural Resources Defense Council, argue that rather than retreating, the state should be advancing state-level approvals to position itself for rapid progress once federal barriers are lifted, thereby upholding its commitment to climate action.

Divergent Stakeholder Positions

The decision has revealed conflicting views on the appropriate course of action for achieving the state’s energy and climate goals.

• The Public Service Commission: Argues the halt is a fiscally responsible measure to protect New York taxpayers from “premature infrastructure costs” until the federal government resumes permitting for wind energy generation projects.
• Environmental Advocates: Characterize the decision as a “huge missed opportunity” and urge the state to continue with low-cost, high-value preparatory work, such as cost-benefit analyses and project selection, to avoid further long-term delays.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

   • SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy: The article’s central theme is the development of wind power, a renewable energy source, and the state’s goal of achieving 70% renewable energy.
   • SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: The core issue discussed is the halt in building essential “transmission lines,” which is a critical piece of sustainable infrastructure needed to support the clean energy transition.
   • SDG 13: Climate Action: The article explicitly mentions the “state climate law” and frames the renewable energy goals as a key component of the state’s strategy to combat climate change.
   • SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The conflict between the state’s energy plans and the federal government’s policies (“Trump’s pause on permits”) highlights a breakdown in policy coherence and partnership between different levels of government, which is crucial for achieving the SDGs.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

   • SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

     • Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. This is directly addressed by “The state climate law set a goal of 70% renewable energy by 2030.”
     • Target 7.a: By 2030, enhance international cooperation to facilitate access to clean energy research and technology… and promote investment in energy infrastructure and clean energy technology. The plan to “lay transmission lines with capacity to deliver offshore wind power” is a direct effort to invest in and build the necessary energy infrastructure.

   • SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

     • Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure… to support economic development and human well-being. The plan for transmission lines to “serve as many as 5 million homes downstate” is a clear example of developing sustainable infrastructure.
     • Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable… and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies. The project to turn “the city’s largest power plant into a green energy hub” (Renewable Ravenswood) directly relates to this target.

   • SDG 13: Climate Action

     • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning. New York’s “state climate law” is a sub-national example of integrating climate measures into official policy and planning.

   • SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

     • Target 17.14: Enhance policy coherence for sustainable development. The article demonstrates a lack of policy coherence, citing “the significant federal uncertainty” and the federal “pause on permits” as the direct cause for halting the state’s infrastructure project.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

   • SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

     • Indicator for Target 7.2: The specific goal of “70% renewable energy by 2030” serves as a direct indicator. The article also provides a progress measurement, stating that “New York was three years behind” on this goal.

   • SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

     • Indicator for Target 9.1: The planned capacity of the infrastructure, “to serve as many as 5 million homes downstate,” can be used as a project-level indicator. The timeline, with transmission lines to be “ready by 2033,” is another implied indicator of progress.

   • SDG 13: Climate Action

     • Indicator for Target 13.2: The existence of the “state climate law” itself is a qualitative indicator that climate measures have been integrated into policy.

   • SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

     • Indicator for Target 17.14: The federal government’s “pause on permits for all offshore wind projects” is a clear, albeit negative, indicator of the lack of policy coherence between state and federal levels.

SDGs, Targets and Indicators Table

Source: gothamist.com