Earlier this summer, Governor Cuomo signed an agreement to establish offshore wind power facilities that will provide almost 1,700 megawatts of electricity – the largest commitment by any state in U.S. history. Complementing this agreement, Cuomo also signed into law the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, the most progressive climate and clean energy law in the country.
Three companies were selected to develop two offshore wind projects, ultimately creating enough energy to power over 1 million homes, create 1,600 jobs, and generate $3.2 billion in economic activity. Equinor will create the 816 megawatt Empire Wind project, and Orsted will partner with Eversource to develop the Sunrise Wind project totaling 880 megawatts. This initiative helps to advance the new statewide goal of 9,000 megawatts of wind power by 2035, and making New York a leader in the expanding offshore wind industry.
To support the wind industry, the Governor also committed to new investments of $287 million to build manufacturing, service, and port facilities in New York and additional financing for a wind workforce training program.
The Empire Wind project plans to place 60 to 80 turbines in the ocean 30 to 50 miles away from Long Island’s shores, from Long Beach to Patchogue. They will connect to ConEdison’s Gowanus substation transmission facility in Brooklyn and supply electricity to New York City.
The Sunrise Wind project will send wind power to parts of Long Island, including the North Fork, the South Fork, and maybe Hampton Bays. Their 100 wind turbines will be located 30 miles east of Long Island’s Montauk Point. Con Edison and the New York Power Authority will help develop the project’s transmission facilities, with the connection point at the Holbrook and West-Bus substations in the town of Brookhaven.
The wind power projects that were selected should start construction by late 2022 and be completed in 2024. They must prepare an environmental impact statement to reduce impacts to underwater lands, coastlines, water quality, endangered species, and other areas.
These offshore wind projects will reduce the need for fossil fuels. Support for wind power has grown recently due to the reducing costs of power from wind energy.
NYLCV will continue to advocate for projects like these which expand the use of renewable energy.