By GREGORY ZELLER //
Construction has begun on the largest offshore-wind project in the nation, opening soon off Long Island.
A ceremonial groundbreaking – or sea-breaking, in this case – has waved the green flag over Sunrise Wind, a 924-megawatt wind farm being developed about 30 miles east of Montauk Point by Denmark-based Ørsted and its project partner, Massachusetts-based Eversource Energy.
Construction starts just six weeks after the project managers finalized their new deal with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, which selected Sunrise Wind – again – during Albany’s fourth offshore-wind solicitation process, conducted earlier this year. Sunrise Wind had earned NYSERDA approval in an earlier solicitation but was slowed by supply-chain troubles and other shifting economic factors, forcing Ørsted and Eversource Energy to scrap that first contract and seek a better deal.
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority President and CEO Doreen Harris trumpeted a “momentous groundbreaking” that promises not only a giant leap toward the state’s ambitious clean-energy goals but “a catalyst for creating new family-sustaining job opportunities and bringing significant economic benefits to local communities.”
Doreen Harris: Environmental, economic “powerhouse.”
“[This] marks yet another step forward in advancing offshore wind in New York State and realizing the potential of this powerhouse industry in accelerating the state’s energy transition and growing our economy,” Harris added.
The Sunrise Wind groundbreaking comes about four months after operations commenced at South Fork Wind, another Ørsted/Eversource project featuring 12 ocean-based wind turbines, situated roughly 35 miles east of Montauk. With testing, adjusting and training still in flux, South Fork Wind is still spinning toward its highest production levels, with 130 megawatts of wind-generated electricity ultimately blowing in the wind.
“Sunrise Wind builds on the momentum from South Fork Wind as we deliver jobs, economic development and clean power for hundreds of thousands of New York homes and businesses,” Ørsted CEO Americas and Group Executive Vice President Dave Hardy said in a statement. “We’re successfully standing up a new American energy industry … [and] look forward to building New York’s largest offshore-wind project, helping the state meet its clean-energy targets while strengthening the local offshore wind workforce and supply chain.”
The rise of Sunrise Wind also coincides with the opening of New York’s fifth offshore-wind solicitation process, which opened July 12. New proposals are due by Sept. 9, with NYSERDA focusing this time on labor provisions, stakeholder engagement and disadvantaged community commitments, among other key provisions.
With the new solicitation in effect, construction well underway on New York’s first offshore-wind port (Norwegian energy firm Equinor, which negotiated a new state contract for its previously approved, 810-megawatt Empire Wind 1 project in the fourth offshore-wind solicitation, is remaking the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal) and now Sunrise Wind getting started, New York’s green economy is rapidly coming together, according to Gov. Kathy Hochul.
Coming soon: Sunrise Wind will ultimately pump more than 900 megawatts of clean electricity to Long Island consumers.
“By breaking ground on Sunrise Wind and advancing the next wave of offshore-wind projects, New York is passing a tremendous milestone to combat climate change,” the governor said Wednesday. “These projects will create good-paying union jobs and demonstrate that New York is leading the nation to build the offshore-wind industry.”
Environmental activists were also thrilled by this week’s developments. Alliance for Clean Energy New York Executive Director Marguerite Wells called offshore wind “an imperative part of New York achieving its clean-energy mandates,” while Citizens Campaign for the Environment Executive Director Adrienne Esposito applauded the “successful implementation” of the state’s transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy.
“Fighting climate change and providing cleaner air for the public requires turning the climate plan into action,” Esposito said. “Breaking ground for the Sunrise Wind Farm and the announcement of more offshore wind projects for New York mean the dream of a renewable-energy future is becoming a reality.
“These historic changes are dramatic and will shape our future energy production for generations,” the CCE exec added. “And they will benefit every single New Yorker.”
