New York Construction Report staff writer
Construction is expected to ramp up this year on two offshore wind projects that will create more than 800 construction jobs.
“As New York continues to pursue the goals set out by the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, it is critical that we push forward large-scale offshore wind projects that boost our clean energy infrastructure and create thousands of good-paying union careers for hardworking New Yorkers,” said New York State Building Trades President Gary LaBarbera. “We applaud leadership in Albany and NYSERDA for pushing forward these initiatives off the shores of Long Island and Brooklyn that will propel us to our climate objectives, help usher in a new green economy, and uplift our underserved communities.
“Our tradesmen and tradeswomen look forward to playing a role in pushing these crucial projects forward and pursuing the family-sustaining careers and paths to the middle class they create.”
Empire Wind 1 is a planned 810-megawatt project developed by Equinor and Sunrise Wind is a planned 924-megawatt project developed by Orsted and Eversource.
Competitively selected projects are expected to create more than 800 construction jobs and invest $2 billion in near-term enhanced economic development statewide, including developer-committed investments to support disadvantaged communities.
The projects, totaling over 1,700 megawatts of clean energy, will be the largest power generation projects in New York State in over 35 years once they enter operation in 2026, and will continue progress towards achievement of the State’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (Climate Act) goal to develop 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind energy by 2035.
Empire Wind I, located 15 miles off New York’s shore and Sunrise Wind, located more than 30 miles east of the eastern point of Long Island, have completed most federal and state permitting milestones, including Empire Wind I receiving final approval of their construction and operations plan from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) last week.
Empire Wind 1 and Sunrise Wind will launch construction and operation of the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal assembly and staging port, jump-starting over 400 construction jobs this year to transform the currently inactive 70-acre waterfront site in a disadvantaged community into a thriving offshore wind port.
They will invest more than $80 million in construction and manufacturing associated with advanced foundation components at the Port of Coeymans.
“The 800 family-sustaining Building Trades construction jobs that will be created as a result of this solicitation will truly move the economic needle here on Long Island,” said Building and Construction Trades Council of Nassau and Suffolk Counties President Matthew Aracich. “The opportunity provided by the offshore wind industry will allow the Building Trades to provide our pathway from community member to apprentice to journeyman for years to come; this pipeline provides a real path to the middle class for our local residents.”
