New York Losing Interest In Offshore Power Projects

New York has pretty much lost interest in offshore wind power projects, and a proposed project 15 miles off the Rockaways has all but been shelved.

First announced in 2008 and endorsed by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the massive offshore wind farm was set to start spinning by 2015. Currently, it is sputtering.

Jonathan Foster, the vice chairman of the New York Power Authority, whose chief executive officer just resigned, said the project is not at the top of the agency's priority list.

"At this point, with our leadership somewhat in flux and having also announced two other major projects, the Hudson Transmission Project and also Recharge New York, we've got a full plate," said Foster.

It has been more than a year since the Power Authority got approval to apply for a federal lease on the ocean floor, but they have yet to apply.

The authority also just withdrew a key application with the state's independent power operator.

A spokesperson could not give a timeline for the project and called the application premature, and said environmental and economic studies are ongoing.

Large-scale offshore wind projects have had trouble gaining traction in the United States. Advocates say it has mostly to do with economics and a lack of enthusiasm for wind power.

New Jersey has several proposed projects in the works, and it will be interesting to see if the impending hurricane changes minds - for or against.