New Green Energy Program's $29B Wind Blows In NYC's Favor

NEW YORK CITY — New York City is poised to reap the benefits of a massive new green energy program expected to 50,000 jobs and $29 billion in private investment.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday devoted the third day of his State of the State to outlining efforts to build out sustainable, renewable energy projects in the state.

The plan will help replace carbon-based energy supplies on a mass scale, he said.

"Candles cannot power the future," he said. "Piecemeal, episodic or incidental efforts will fail. We need a transformative green energy system that can sustain itself and the state's need."

Much of those plans center around New York City.

Cuomo said an offshore wind turbine hub at South Brooklyn Marine Terminal will create 1,200 new jobs. He also announced two new wind turbine farms Long Island will add to 68 current solar and wind projects already underway.

Starting new projects is the first prong of a four-component plan Cuomo outlined.

He said the state must stop start developing green technology instead of importing it, build transmission capacity to connect renewable energy with places it's consumed and, finally, train its workforce in the new industry.

Three new transmission projects will run power from upstate to New York City, Cuomo said.

The new projects will meet state goals to include minority- and women-owned businesses, as well as require prevailing wage and project labor agreements, he said.

"We will ensure all New Yorkers benefit from our green energy plan," he said. "It's a matter of basic social justice. In total, our entire green energy program will create 12,400 megawatts of green power to power six million homes. It will directly create 50,000 jobs and spur $29 billion in private investment all across the state.

"That, my friends, is how we launch ourselves into the new post-COVID economy."