New York State
Environmental Technical Working Group
About Us
Who We Are
Environmental Technical Working Group
The Environmental Technical Working Group (E-TWG) is comprised of:
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Advisory members. Developers with lease holdings that are geographically relevant to the State of New York; science-based environmental non-governmental organizations (NGOs) with expertise in wildlife and offshore wind issues; and one non-partisan NGO with membership that includes both developers and environmental NGOs.
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Observers. Federal agencies, as well as state agencies from New York and other regional states. Observer members provide their expertise and technical input, coordinate with ongoing regulatory processes, and report information from group discussions back to their respective organizations, but are not directly involved in making recommendations to the State.
Current Membership
Developers:
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Atlantic Shores
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Avangrid Renewables
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Equinor
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Mayflower Wind
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Ocean Wind
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Ørsted
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RWE Renewables Americas
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Shell New Energies
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TotalEnergies US Renewables
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Vineyard Wind
Environmental NGOs:
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National Audubon Society
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National Wildlife Federation
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Natural Resources Defense Council
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The Nature Conservancy
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Wildlife Conservation Society
Nonpartisan NGOs:
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New York Offshore Wind Alliance
State Government:
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New York State Energy Research and Development Authority
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Connecticut Dept. of Energy & Environ. Protection
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Delaware Dept. of Natural Resources & Environmental Control
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Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
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Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources
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Massachusetts Dept. of State
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New York Dept. of Environmental Conservation
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New York Dept. of State
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New Jersey Dept. of Environmental Protection
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New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
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North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
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Virginia Dept. of Environmental Quality
Federal Government:
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Bureau Of Ocean Energy Management
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National Marine Fisheries Service
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U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Past Membership
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Audubon New York
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Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council
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US Wind
Specialist Committees
Specialist Committees (SCs) address issues that the E-TWG has designated as priorities. Committee products, along with E-TWG input on those products, inform decision making by New York state agencies. SCs include both E-TWG and non-E-TWG members with relevant expertise. Current specialist committees include:
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Regional Synthesis Workgroup to inform and provide interim guidance for regional-scale research and monitoring of offshore wind energy and wildlife in the eastern United States.
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Avian Displacement Guidance Committee to develop guidance for pre- and post-construction monitoring to detect macro-to meso-scale changes in avian distributions and habitat use in relation to offshore wind development.
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Developing a scientific research framework for the study of offshore wind impacts on birds and bats
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Regional coordination through State of the Science workshops
Past SCs include those focused on developing guidance for the minimization and mitigation of offshore wind energy impacts to 1) birds and bats and 2) marine mammals and sea turtles.
Support Staff
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BRI (led by Kate Williams and Julia Gulka) provides technical support, coordination, and management for the E-TWG and committees
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The Consensus Building Institute and Cadmus provide meeting preparation and facilitation services
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NYSERDA provides financial, event planning, and other support as needed, and coordinates between the E-TWG and other New York Technical Working Groups
Photo credits: White-winged Scoter © Daniel Poleschook