This announcement follows the release of Rise’s Renewable Ravenswood vision, which set ambitious targets to transition Ravenswood Generating Station from New York City’s largest fossil fuel power plant to a hub of renewable energy. It also follows Governor Kathy Hochul’s landmark announcement of New York’s third offshore wind solicitation, which will procure at least 2 GW of offshore wind energy. Queensboro is an innovative solution to the most challenging problem facing the offshore wind industry: delivering energy from the Atlantic Ocean to consumers efficiently and cost-effectively. With years of surveys and engineering work already complete, Queensboro offers unparalleled project maturity for interconnecting offshore wind in New York Harbor.
This announcement follows the release of Rise’s Renewable Ravenswood vision, which set ambitious targets to transition Ravenswood Generating Station from New York City’s largest fossil fuel power plant to a hub of renewable energy. It also follows Governor Kathy Hochul’s landmark announcement of New York’s third offshore wind solicitation, which will procure at least 2 GW of offshore wind energy. With years of surveys and engineering work already complete, Queensboro offers unparalleled project maturity for interconnecting offshore wind in New York Harbor.
“As home to New York City’s largest power generator, there are countless reasons to interconnect gigawatts of new offshore wind energy at the Ravenswood site,” said Clint Plummer, Chief Executive Officer of Rise Light & Power. “We can leverage our existing infrastructure and waterfront location to deliver a low-cost, low-risk offshore wind transmission system. Queensboro Renewable Express, as part of the larger Renewable Ravenswood vision, is designed in partnership with our neighbors and community, and we are excited to make it a reality.”
Rise has been developing the Queensboro project for more than two years, completing 255 miles of geophysical surveys in New York Harbor to determine the safest and most efficient location for buried, submarine, high-voltage direct current (HVDC) cables.
Multiple sets of transmission cables will bring up to 3.9 GW of offshore wind power from the Atlantic Ocean, through the Verrazano Narrows, Upper New York Bay, and East River to the Ravenswood site in Queens, avoiding any impacts to beaches, public streets, or other property. By landing the cables at Ravenswood – a 27-acre waterfront industrial site in Queens – the project will leverage existing infrastructure to lower costs and improve efficiency.
In addition to providing cost advantages, Queensboro allows the opportunity to permanently replace 1960s-era fossil fuel generation capacity and provide continued employment for Ravenswood’s union workforce that has kept New York’s lights on for decades. Queensboro, as part of the Renewable Ravenswood vision, has numerous advantages, including:
The Queensboro Renewable Express drew praise from elected leaders, environmental justice, and labor advocates.
“After years of advocacy for retiring Big Allis, I am thrilled to see this concrete proposal to bring offshore wind energy to Queens, directly replacing fossil fuel generation,” said U.S. Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (NY-12). “Renewable Ravenswood offered a compelling vision for the site, and this announcement is the next step in making that vision a reality. The table is set for a just transition to renewables, and I look forward to collaborating with our partners in New York State government to make this happen.”
“We applaud Rise Light and Power’s announcement in supporting New York State’s sustainable energy transition by working expeditiously to replace inefficient, high-emitting peaker plants in Western Queens with energy storage and offshore wind transmission infrastructure,” said Cortney Koenig Worrall, CEO and President, Waterfront Alliance. “The Renewable Ravenswood vision, including this proposal to bring new offshore wind resources to Queens, will directly replace fossil fuel generation while minimizing impacts to public waterfront resources.”
“Bringing new sources of renewable energy to Ravenswood Generating Station is a surefire way to ensure that UWUA Local 1-2 will continue to play a role in keeping the lights on,” said Jim Shillitto, President of Utility Workers Union of America Local 1-2. “By making investments to modernize and transition Ravenswood to clean energy, Rise will maintain electric reliability for New Yorkers and keep union workers at the forefront.”
