Warren Leon, Executive Director

Clean Energy States Alliance
(CESA) is a national, nonprofit coalition of public agencies and organizations working together to advance clean energy. CESA members— mostly state agencies—include many of the most innovative, successful, and influential public funders of clean energy initiatives in the country. CESA manages the Northeast Wind
Resource Center with SEA.
Northeast Members
• Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
• Connecticut Green Bank
• Massachusetts Clean Energy Center
• Massachusetts Department of Energy
Resources
• Massachusetts Department of
Environmental Protection
• New Hampshire Public Utilities
Commission - Sustainable Energy
Division
• New York State Energy Research and
Development Authority
• Rhode Island Commerce Corporation
• Rhode Island Office of Energy
Resources
• Vermont Public Service Department -
Clean Energy Development Fund

• 8,000 megawatts installed and in operation in Europe
• Resource is significant
– In Mid-Atlantic and New England waters, technical potential of 400 GW in water up to 30 meters in depth plus 300 GW more in waters up to 60 meters
• The federal government and state governments have been working hard to set the stage for offshore wind development
• Industry is making progress in cutting costs through innovation and partnerships
• The cost of offshore wind energy is currently higher than other renewable and fossil fuel resources www.cesa.org
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• Offshore wind development is important for the region, but is difficult www.cesa.org
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• Help achieve individual state RPS targets and comply with EPA’s
Clean Power Plan
• Address peak demand by providing more electricity during summer and winter peaking hours
• Increase fuel diversity and regional energy security
• Delink the region from the volatility of fossil fuel price fluctuations
• Reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions
• Create good-paying jobs installing and maintaining offshore wind farms
• Create a regional supply chain that would boost regional economic development
• Reduce the need for longdistance transmission upgrades
• Address electricity needs in load centers with high electricity costs by siting renewable generation close to metropolitan areas
• Provide a higher capacity factor and increased production per
MW, compared to other renewable energy sources

• Continue individual states’ existing efforts
• Continue to work with the federal government and encourage the federal government to remain active in promoting offshore wind development
• Increase cooperation and collaboration among the states
– A supplement to, not a substitute for, states’ individual actions www.cesa.org
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• General discussions in recent years and considerable agreement that there would theoretically be benefits from working together
• Areas of possible cooperation spelled out in various reports. For example:
– Collaborative Procurement of Offshore Wind Energy
(CESA, 2015)
– Up in the Air: What the Northeast States Should Do
Together on Offshore Wind, Before It’s Too Late (Clean
Energy Group and Navigant, 2015) www.cesa.org
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(from CEG/Navigant Report)
1. Regional Offshore Wind Target . The establishment of a practical regional target (or target range) would create a clear demand signal to offshore wind developers that the region is open to support projects.
2. Coordinated Policy Incentives.
Making policy drivers, including incentives for developers, consistent across the region would drive demand and produce cost reductions over time.
3. Financing.
New, regional financing mechanisms for regional and single projects would be desirable, including use of bonds and various measures through green bank financing.
4. Procurement. Joint or cooperative power procurement from one or more large offshore wind projects would reduce costs and create a reliable pipeline for project developers.
5. Economic Development.
Coordinated rather than purely competitive action could spur economic development from the creation of clean energy jobs, potentially including manufacturing facilities.
6. Transmission. Joint public funding of regional transmission and interconnection facilities associated with regional projects.
7. Permitting. Standardized policies for permitting offshore wind facilities.
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• Which of the possible ideas are practical?
• Which possible areas of collaboration would have the greatest impact on offshore wind development?
• What is best for individual states to continue to do on their own?
www.cesa.org
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• Four states jointly submitted: MA, ME, RI,
NY
– NH supportive but not actively participating
– CESA to serve a project coordination role
• Project goal
– Prepare a Roadmap: a strategy for achieving a significant regional market
• Identify what the states should do on their own
• Identify what the states can and should do collaboratively www.cesa.org
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• Work would start in the fall
• Research analysis to inform the Roadmap
• Considerable outreach to and input from stakeholders
• The Roadmap document to be produced by late-2016 www.cesa.org www.cesa.org
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• www.offshorewindhub.com
• Comprehensive repository of state-related documents on offshore wind for the states from ME to NJ
Help wanted
• Submit information about additional documents to include
An activity of the

Warren Leon
Clean Energy States Alliance www.cesa.org
wleon@cleanegroup.org
www.cesa.org
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