By Hank Russell
Elected and union officials, as well as business leaders, convened in front of the Long Island Association’s headquarters in Melville on February 6, urging the U.S. Bureau of Ocean and Energy Management (BOEM) to drop their lease suspension order against Sunrise Wind so the project — which is 45% completed — can come to fruition.
The group highlighted the substantial economic benefits of the offshore wind project including stabilizing the price of energy, and the union jobs and downstream supply chain windfall in a letter to Acting Director of BOEM Matthew Giancona, and expressed the need to advance the project without any further disruptions. Among the benefits of the project, according to the group:
- More than 1,000 local union jobs, totaling more than 1 million union work hours.
- Nearly $2 billion in economic benefits in New York — including over $800 million in wages and benefits over the project’s 25-year contract with the State.
- $170 million in host community payments to the Town of Brookhaven, making this the largest ever community benefits package in Long Island history.
- Ørsted’s new Operations and Maintenance Hub in East Setauket, which already employs dozens of Long Islanders and was expected to grow significantly with new permanent jobs with the completion of Sunrise Wind.
- A $10 million grant to the National Offshore Wind Training Center.
- A $5 million grant to Stony Brook University.
As previously reported in Long Island Life & Politics, the Interior Department announced that it has placed a pause on leases for five wind farm projects, including Sunrise Wind. The agency cited “national security concerns” as a reason for this decision.
When the group was asked about that, Haugland Corp. President Billy Haugland replied, “What’s important to know about this is that it’s not a new technology. It’s been successfully used in Europe for three decades.” Noting the South Fork project, which has been operational the past year, it is showing that wind power “is a reliable source of energy” and “performing at our better than” the pilot project.
Sunrise Wind is under construction 30 miles off Montauk and is anticipated to be operational next year, generating enough energy to power 600,000 homes. The project has faced headwinds with the recent suspension order from the BOEM that is being challenged in court by project developer Ørsted and is currently under a preliminary injunction that allows construction to continue while the lawsuit progresses.
Matt Cohen, LIA president and CEO, said, “The LIA urges the federal government to rescind their suspension order immediately, and allow this job-creating project that supports a stable grid capable of accommodating future economic growth to make it to the finish line. The economic benefits to Long Island and New York are undeniable – and the LIA supports an all-of-the-above energy strategy that incorporates all potential sources into our portfolio so our region can be prosperous.”
Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico said “there has to be certainty with regard to those contracts” that were “lawfully approved, lawfully permitted and lawfully granted” in the previous administration.
“If this administration does not want a national energy policy, that includes additional offshore wind, that is their prerogative under the law,” Panico added. “But the law is the law. … No level of government has the ability to pull the rug out from a project.”
He also agreed with the court’s recent ruling allowing for work on the wind project, saying, “It was the correct decision.”
Terri Alessi-Miceli, President & CEO of HIA-LIA, said, “This critical infrastructure project strengthens Long Island’s energy future while creating good-paying jobs and long-term economic benefits for our region. Sunrise Wind represents a practical step toward diversifying our energy mix and investing in offshore wind in a way that supports reliability, sustainability, and continued growth for Long Island and New York State.”
Panico said the project is vital to the town’s economic development. When asked how he was able to prepare for the lack of funding coming from the stalled project, Panico noted, “We budget conservatively and the quicker the project is finished, then the payments — which is part of the Host Community Benefit agreement — come to offset some of the burden on Brookhaven Town residents.”
Mike Florio, CEO of Long Island Builders Institute, said, “Projects like Sunrise Wind are critical to Long Island’s future as we work to diversify our energy mix and invest in practical, reliable offshore wind infrastructure. Affordable and dependable energy is directly tied to housing production and the overall cost of living in our region. If we are serious about building more homes, supporting the workforce, and keeping Long Island competitive, we need energy solutions that are sustainable, scalable, and planned with growth in mind.”
Marc Herbst, Executive Director of the Long Island Contractors’ Association (LICA), said, “LICA applauds the decision to allow construction of Sunrise Wind to resume. This project represents a major opportunity to create good-paying union jobs, strengthen Long Island’s workforce, and deliver long-term economic benefits for our region. Now is the time for Long Island’s business and labor leaders to keep the momentum going and continue advocating for the economic growth, local investment, and job creation Sunrise Wind will bring to our communities.”
John Durso, President of the Long Island Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, said, “We cannot afford further delays to critical energy infrastructure. Lifting the stop work order allows Sunrise Wind to move forward delivering union jobs, strengthening our energy grid, and advancing the kind of real progress Long Island needs. After repeated attempts to disrupt this project, the court’s ruling is a much-needed win for Long Islanders.”
Robert Fonti, Chairman of the Suffolk County Alliance of Chambers, said, “The Sunrise Wind Project represents both an energy investment and an economic opportunity for Long Island. Our small businesses want to see projects that create jobs, support local contractors, and move our region forward responsibly. The Suffolk County Alliance of Chambers supports efforts that strengthen our economy while planning for the future.”
The group noted that the project is “45% completed.” LILP asked when they expect the project to be fully done. Haugland said construction is expected to be done by the end of the year and be fully operational by the first quarter of 2027.