Turbines Will Deliver Electricity Across Long Island and the Rockaways
Governor Kathy Hochul joined U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and other distinguished officials, for a press conference on March 14 to announce the completion of the South Fork Wind project. This project marks America’s first utility-scale offshore wind farm, with all 12 turbines now constructed and actively delivering power to Long Island and the Rockaways.
Hochul emphasized her commitment to a cleaner, greener future for New Yorkers, highlighting that South Fork Wind is now powering tens of thousands of homes and businesses. This achievement is seen as just the beginning of New York’s ambitious journey toward an offshore wind-powered future, in partnership with the Biden Administration and local leaders.
“When I broke ground on the South Fork project, I made a promise to build a cleaner, greener future for all New Yorkers,” Hochul said. “I’m keeping to that promise and South Fork Wind is now delivering clean energy to tens of thousands of homes and businesses on Long Island. With more projects in the pipeline, this is just the beginning of New York’s offshore wind future and I look forward to continued partnership with the Biden Administration and local leaders to build a clean and resilient energy grid.”
Haaland commended the rapid progress towards a sustainable clean energy economy under President Biden’s leadership, noting that the South Fork project, delivering 130 megawatts of wind energy, is powering over 70,000 homes and businesses. “Every day, the Interior Department is answering President Biden’s call and moving rapidly to create a robust and sustainable clean energy economy that creates jobs, boosts local economies and helps address environmental justice. We’re thrilled to celebrate the completion of the South Fork project, which will deliver 130 megawatts of wind energy to Long Island. That’s enough to power more than 70,000 homes and businesses! Today is further proof that America’s clean energy transition is not a dream for a distant future – it’s happening right here and now.”
National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi underscored the administration’s dedication to combating climate change through infrastructure development, celebrating the significant progress and the role of partnerships in achieving this historic milestone. “With the South Fork Wind project now complete and more underway – all approved and supported by the Biden-Harris Administration – we celebrate the massive progress that’s been achieved thanks to strong partnerships with leaders like Governor Hochul. This historic milestone will not only advance President Biden’s ambitious climate goals but also create good-paying jobs, strengthen our power grid, support workers and enhance the quality of life for all New Yorkers.”
The South Fork Wind farm, located approximately 35 miles off the coast of Montauk, is set to eliminate up to six million tons of carbon emissions over its lifespan. Its completion aligns with New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act goals, aiming for 70 percent renewable energy by 2030 and nine gigawatts of offshore wind by 2035.
Officials and leaders from various sectors celebrated this milestone, praising the collaborative effort and its impact on New York’s energy landscape, economic growth, and environmental sustainability. The South Fork Wind project stands as a testament to New York’s leadership in climate initiatives and the transition to a cleaner, renewable energy future.
Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine, who saw the project begin when he was Brookhaven Town Supervisor, said, “Today, history is made in Suffolk County. Thanks to the leadership of Governor Hochul and our representatives in the federal government, we have been able to set an example for the rest of New York State on embracing new technologies and bringing wind-generated energy to an entire region while making utility costs more affordable for our residents. It is a great achievement.”
East Hampton Town Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez noted that the town board voted 4-1 to approve the project. “We are immensely proud to witness the completion of the South Fork Wind Farm project, ten years after the East Hampton Town Board demonstrated the courage and vision to become the first municipality in New York State to set the goal of meeting 100% of our community’s energy consumption needs with renewable energy sources by 2030,” she said.
All 12 of South Fork Wind’s turbines are installed and the wind farm is delivering clean power to the local Long Island electric grid, with commissioning in its final stage. At full capacity, the approximately 130-megawatt wind farm will generate enough renewable energy to power approximately 70,000 homes. The renewable energy is generated roughly 35 miles off the coast of Montauk, and will eliminate up to six million tons of carbon emissions over the life of the project, the equivalent of taking 60,000 cars off the road for the next twenty years.
First approved by the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) Board of Trustees in 2017, South Fork Wind began construction in February 2022, beginning with the onshore export cable system that links the project to the Long Island electric grid. The wind farm reached its “steel in the water” milestone in June 2023 with the installation of the project’s first monopile foundation, and its final turbine was installed in February.
South Fork Wind’s successful completion supports progress toward New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act requirements to achieve 70 percent renewable energy by 2030 and install nine gigawatts of offshore wind by 2035. This milestone follows Hochul’s recent announcement of two offshore wind project awards, Empire Wind I and Sunrise Wind, for over 1,730 megawatts and $2 billion in near-term economic development investments.
Hundreds of U.S. workers and three Northeast ports supported South Fork Wind’s construction, helping to stand up the foundations of a new domestic supply chain that’s creating local union jobs across the Northeast and beyond.
South Fork Wind’s turbines were staged and assembled by local union workers at State Pier in New London, Connecticut. The project’s advanced foundation components were completed by local union workers at Ørsted and Eversource’s fabrication hub at ProvPort, in Rhode Island. Its crew vessels and crew change helicopter is based out of Quonset Point, Rhode Island. South Fork Wind includes the first U.S.-built offshore wind substation, built by more than 350 U.S. workers across three states, with New York union workers supporting its installation offshore.
“From the first steel in the water to the final turbine, our hard-working offshore wind construction team has put South Fork Wind on the path to making American energy history,” said Ørsted Group EVP and CEO Americas David Hardy.
“Building South Fork Wind was a true regional effort and couldn’t have been realized without the support and investment in ports at ProvPort in Rhode Island and the New London State Pier in Connecticut,” added Eversource Energy Chairman President and Chief Executive Officer Joe Nolan.
New York State AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento said, “Today marks a major milestone toward achieving the state’s goal of transitioning to clean energy with the use of highly skilled union labor.”
“This industry defining project, which was nation’s first industrial scale offshore wind project on the Eastern Seaboard, will continue to provide residual benefits for years to come,” said Matthew Aracich, president of Building and Construction Trades Council of Nassau and Suffolk Counties. “Long Island’s youth should expect to see new opportunities in the very near future through apprentice training programs. The building trades pipeline, leveraging the best career training possible, will continue to provide opportunities for family sustaining wages.”
“South Fork Wind was constructed with union labor and we expect it to be operated with union labor. Today’s announcement is proof positive that we can address the climate crisis and create good union jobs in the process,” added Long Island Federation of Labor President John R. Durso.
Long Island-based contractor Haugland Energy Group LLC (an affiliate of Haugland Group LLC), installed the underground duct bank system for South Fork Wind’s onshore transmission line and led the construction of the project’s onshore interconnection facility. LS Cable installed and jointed the onshore cables with support from Long Island’s Elecnor Hawkeye. The onshore cable scope of work alone created more than 100 union jobs for Long Island skilled trades workers. Roman Stone, also on Long Island, manufactured concrete mattresses to protect the undersea cables, and Ljungstrom, located in western New York, in partnership with Riggs Distler & Company, Inc., provided specialized structural steelwork.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who describes himself as “a big fan of wind energy,” said, “The completion of the first offshore wind farm in the country, located right here in New York, is a milestone moment in our state’s and the nation’s effort to combat climate change and build clean, renewable energy with domestic manufacturing. … South Fork Wind’s twelve turbines will provide enough power for tens of thousands of New York homes.”
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority President and CEO Doreen M. Harris congratulated everyone on “this historic achievement” and thanked everyone for “staying the course as we build New York’s offshore wind industry one turbine and countless blade turns at a time propelling us forward with the wind at our backs.”
Public Service Commission Chair Rory M. Christian added, “Clean, renewable power flowing from the South Fork Wind project is an important part of our overall mission to create a clean-energy economy in New York State.”
“Offshore wind is not just a source of renewable clean energy but also fosters economic growth, energy independence and environmental protection,” said NYS Secretary of State Robert J. Rodriguez.
Citizens Campaign for the Environment Executive Director Adrienne Esposito said this project will create “the path to free our nation from our addiction to fossil fuels and [establish] a gateway to new beginnings for cleaner energy generation. … There are very few moments in time that we can see positive change for our future and this is one of them.”
Renewable Energy Long Island Executive Director Gordian Raacke added, “The completion of the South Fork Wind Farm marks a pivotal moment for offshore wind and the urgently needed transition to renewable energy here on Long Island and New York. The years of hard work of so many paid off and prove that we can, in fact, build a clean energy economy.”
“For more than 50 years, Montauk has been at the forefront of environmental protection, and we are so proud to have South Fork Wind associated with our tiny-but-mighty hamlet,” Concerned Citizens of Montauk Executive Director Kay Tyler said. “This landmark project, right in our backyard, ushers in a new era in clean and renewable energy for our community, our state, and our country, now and for future generations.”