ALBANY, New York — New York’s signature offshore wind projects meant to boost confidence in the industry are being scrapped, a major hit to the industry in the state and the nation.
All Long Islanders agree about the need for clean water [“Clean-water funding is crucial in state budget,” Opinion, March 24]. Nitrogen pollution from sewage is causing water quality impairments, fish kills and harmful algal blooms. Contaminants poses a significant threat to our drinking water and health. The good news is that we know how to solve these problems, but we need money.
Governor Kathy Hochul today, alongside the United States Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and other elected officials, announced the completion of the landmark South Fork Wind project, with all 12 offshore wind turbines constructed and the wind farm successfully delivering power to Long Island and the Rockaways. Today marks a historic milestone as New York becomes home to America’s first utility-scale offshore wind farm.
Under Gov. Kathy Hochul’s leadership, New York has been a national leader in funding the protection of clean water, but now is not the time to rest on our laurels. Given the massive clean water needs that exist throughout New York, it’s perplexing that the governor proposed to slash clean water funding by 50%, from $500 million down to $250 million, in this year’s budget.
New York State has conditionally awarded new contracts to the developers of offshore wind farms with the goal of countering headwinds that the industry has faced since South Fork Wind went online.
Empire Wind I and Sunrise Wind Will Foster More Than 800 Near-term, Family-Sustaining Jobs
$2 Billion in Near-Term Economic Development Investments, Including Support to Disadvantaged Communities
Awarded Projects Totaling Over 1,700 Megawatts of Clean Energy – The Largest Power Generating Projects in New York State in Over 35 Years
Enables the Construction of One of the Largest Dedicated Offshore Wind Port Facilities in the United States at South Brooklyn Marine Terminal
Represents Progress Toward State’s Climate Act Goal to Develop 9,000 Megawatts of Offshore Wind Energy by 2035
HAUPPAUGE, NY— Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine and Presiding Officer Kevin McCaffrey were joined today by environmental and labor leaders at a press conference announcing an historic deal that will transform water protection in Suffolk County and pave the way for clean water for future generations.
ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES DESCEND: Environmental groups held a forum on cleaning up fuels in the transportation sector, pushed back on Hochul’s proposed cut for water infrastructure funding and advocated for lawmakers to include a Superfund-style program targeting fossil fuel companies.
While New York has secured eight offshore wind contracts for development, energy experts say not enough investment is being made in the port infrastructure needed to assemble the turbines and deploy them out to sea.
South Fork Wind under construction off the coast of Long Island. The project will be the one of the first large-scale offshore wind farms up and running in the United States.
New York has big plans to generate power from non-polluting renewable energy, produced by giant windmills floating in the Atlantic ocean.
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced $479 million in grants for critical water infrastructure projects, including the first funding awarded through the $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022, which was passed by voters after Hochul pushed to increase the total amount by $1 billion upon taking office.
