New York already has one of the nation's most ambitious climate laws to reduce its carbon emissions, but some lawmakers are pushing to increase the state's offshore wind electricity targets further before session ends next week. 

The state's energy will increasingly come from offshore wind over the next few decades, but lawmakers want it done sooner as more planned projects are under contract than expected.

Sen. Brian Kavanagh introduced legislation earlier this spring to increase its offshore wind from 9 gigawatts by 2035 to 20 gigawatts by 2050. 

"We basically think it's feasible to do much more offshore wind than had been previously mandated," Kavanagh said Friday. "We're increasing the 2035 goal, and then we're also adding goals further into the future. Because we know if you want to get where you need to go, you need to plan ahead."

The state Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is more than halfway to reaching the current goal, with 4.3 gigawatts of offshore wind under contract of the 9 gigawatts mandated under the 2019 Climate Act. 

Kavanagh, a Manhattan Democrat, says it shows the state has the bandwidth for more than originally expected.

"Now, four years later, we understand better what is possible with offshore wind, and we understand [and] we think there's an opportunity to build on the success we've had," he said.

The state has five offshore wind projects in active development — the largest offshore wind pipeline in the nation, according to NYSERDA. The department received more than 100 proposals from companies in January bidding for eight new projects from six offshore wind energy developers, which is part of the state's third competitive offshore wind solicitation. It marked a record level of competition for the clean energy projects on the East Coast to date, a department spokesperson said Friday.

The projects are expected to create thousands of union jobs and bolster upstate's economy. Advocates say the proposed increase would help make the state a national leader and East Coast hub for the emerging offshore wind industry. They sent a letter to legislative leaders this week urging them to increase the state's offshore wind goals before session ends.

"The state is trying to get to 100% clean energy by 2040," said Julie Tighe, president of the state League of Conservation Voters. "This is going to help us move along in that direction."

But other environmental activists in riverside communities say the Legislature should wait to review the proposed increase, and give stakeholders and the public more time to consider the feasibility and potential consequences.

"The very fact that the targets are being proposed without time for proper scrutiny is deeply troubling," Barbara Heinzen, member of the Clean Air Coalition of Greater Ravena-Coeymans, said in a statement Friday.

Ports around the Capital Region along the Hudson River have been eyed for years as potential locations to construct offshore wind turbines and keep the state's climate goals on track.

The coalition supports offshore wind development to address the changing climate, but has recently voiced concerns the Port of Coeymans in southern Albany County may need to acquire more land or make upgrades to be competitive to be selected for the work, which would negatively impact the river and its fragile ecosystems.

"...We vehemently oppose the use of the Port of Coeymans for wind power because this area of the Hudson River is a globally rare fresh water tidal habitat," Heinzen said. "It is a greenfield area of the river that deserves increased protection, not increased industry."

The ports in Albany and East Greenbush are located in existing industrial areas, she said, adding: "They can both handle off-shore wind manufacturing without degrading the Hudson River."

The Port of Albany lost a nearly $30 million federal grant last year after improperly clearing 80 acres of trees for an offshore wind tower manufacturing project without all mandated federal permits. Environmental advocates have said that oversight is an example of consequences to the river that cannot be repeated.

The Port of Coeymans is supporting secondary steel construction for the Sunrise Wind project — a downstate 800 megawatt offshore wind farm — but is not currently constructing turbines, company officials said Friday.

"The Port of Coeymans is confident that its facilities are sufficient enough to service the needs of the Offshore Wind projects," port officials said in a statement. "Additionally, an environmental impact study of The Port of Coeymans was conducted over a period of three-and-a-half-years, which resulted in the necessary permits for the Offshore Wind project being issued thereafter. More information related to this project may be found on our website: Port of Coeymans Offshore Wind Infrastructure (POWI) project - Carver Companies."

The state Department of Environmental Conservation would have the final say in reviewing and approving permits for upgrades at any port along the river.

"New York state is committed to working with project partners and local communities to develop offshore wind in a responsible manner that considers environmental impacts and seeks to mitigate such impacts," a NYSERDA spokesperson said.

Other state environmental leaders argue those concerns are unfounded, and state agencies that provide environmental oversight of these projects will safeguard inappropriate proposals or shortcuts.

"My goodness, we are in a climate crisis," said Judith Enck, president of Beyond Plastics and a former regional U.S. Environmental Protection Agency administrator. "We have to cross the T's, we have to dot the I's, but we have to build clean, renewable energy projects, like wind ASAP. ... Compared to living next to a coal plant, this seems pretty reasonable."

NYSERDA expects to announce awards sometime this summer.