REPORT & PANEL DISCUSSION

Building a New Era of Offshore Wind

Consulting firm The Brattle Group released a report titled Offshore Wind Transmission: An Analysis of Options for New York, underscoring the pivotal role of transmission policy in the development of New York’s offshore wind industry.

According to the report, planned transmission significantly reduces seabed marine cabling. A planned transmission approach would result in a cost savings of over $500 million and significantly reduce environmental impacts and risks in adopting a multi-user, planned transmission system.

The Brattle Group presented their findings in a virtual forum hosted by the New York League of Conservation Voters Education Fund, the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law and Anbaric on August 6th. A recording of the panel discussion and access to the report and technical appendices can be downloaded on this page.

Presenters

Host: Julie Tighe

NYLCVEF

Julie Tighe was named President of NYLCV and NYLCVEF in 2018. Previously, she served for more than eleven years at the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation in various roles, having been elevated to Chief of Staff following her role as Assistant Commissioner of Intergovernmental and Legislative Affairs.

Moderator: Joe Martens

NYOWA

Joe Martens joined the Alliance for Clean Energy NY in 2017. From 2015 to 2017, he was a Senior Fellow at the Open Space Institute. He served as Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Conservation from March 2011 to July 2015. From 1998 through 2010, Commissioner Martens served as President of the Open Space Institute, directing and overseeing its land protection efforts and adding thousands of acres to NY’s parks and forest preserve. He served as OSI’s Executive Vice President from 1995 through 1998. Mr. Martens served Governor Mario Cuomo as Deputy Secretary for Energy and the Environment from 1992-94 and as Assistant Secretary from 1990-92. From 1980-90, Mr. Martens held various positions in the NYS Assembly.

Panelist: Kevin Knobloch

Anbaric

Kevin Knobloch is the former President of New York OceanGrid LLC, where he led Anbaric’s efforts to develop offshore wind transmission in New York. He previously served as Chief of Staff of the U.S. Department of Energy from 2013-2017 and President of the Union of Concerned Scientists for ten years before that. He also served as Legislative Assistant for U.S. Representative Ted Weiss of New York in the 1980s.

Panelist: Tammy Mitchell

New York State Department of Public Service

Tammy is the Director of Electric in the Office of Electric, Gas and Water at New York State Department of Public Service. Prior to her current position, Ms. Mitchell oversaw the Department’s Electric Distribution and Bulk Electric Systems sections. She also held positions in Electric Rates, Policy Coordination, and Competitive Transition sections and served as an Assistant to the Commissioners. Tammy holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a Master of Business Administration degree from the State University of New York at Albany.

Panelist: Kirsty Townsend

Ørsted

Kirsty Townsend, Director at Ørsted, is Head of Special Projects, North America. She is responsible for leading on critical infrastructure challenges as well as leading the strategic problem solving for market Development. Before joining Ørsted she was a Consultant at Boston Consulting Group, specializing in renewable energy, infrastructure and green finance projects. She has also worked for the UK government, as private secretary to the UK’s minister for Energy and several years within technical innovation.

Panelist: Girish Behal

New York Power Authority

Girish Behal is the Vice President of Projects and Business Development at the New York Power Authority. Previously, he worked at SNC – Lavalin for eight years and Northeast Utilities. He specializes in operations management, onshore and offshore renewables and siting and permitting.

Presenter: HANNES PFEIFENBERGER

The Brattle Group

Hannes Pfeifenberger, a Principal at The Brattle Group, is an economist with a background in electrical engineering and over twenty-five years of experience in the areas of regulatory economics and finance. He specializes in electricity market design, transmission pricing and cost-benefit analyses.

Presenter: DR. WALTER GRAF

The Brattle Group

Dr. Walter Graf is an Associate at the Brattle Group with expertise in electricity wholesale market design and analysis, load forecasting, and rate design. His work focuses on addressing economic issues facing regulators, market operators, and market participants in the electricity industry in the transition to a low-carbon supply mix.

Presenter: Dr. Kasparas Spokas

The Brattle Group

Dr. Kasparas Spokas is an associate at The Brattle Group with a focus on electricity sector topics such as renewable and climate policy analysis, electricity policy design, and market design. He’s worked for policymakers, renewable energy buyers, and governments to evaluate clean energy policies to ensure strategies are feasible, create additional benefits, and are cost-effective.

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