Abstract
The Blueprint for the New York State Offshore Wind Master Plan (Blueprint) outlines NYSERDA’s process to develop the Master Plan for this important resource. The Blueprint also describes how stakeholder input and feedback will be pursued to inform the Master Plan. Blueprint activities will launch in the fall of 2016, and conclude with a completed Master Plan by the end of 2017. The Master Plan will be updated annually thereafter. Early offshore wind projects may move forward in parallel with the Master Plan and should be the products of responsible site identification and assessment achieved through meaningful input from stakeholders, including the environmental, maritime and fishing communities, local economic stakeholders, and coastal communities. Projects that do move forward should inform the Master Plan and identify challenges and opportunities to improve processes and drive down soft costs. Projects will also provide valuable guidance for how to scale offshore wind responsibly.