New York Construction Report staff writer
As construction starts New York’s largest offshore wind project, Sunrise Wind, a 924-megawatt project developed by Ørsted, Gov. Kathy Hochul also announced the issuance of New York’s fifth offshore wind solicitation to advance the next wave of clean energy development projects off the state’s coast, with final proposals due on September 9, 2024.
“We’re growing New York’s green economy, building clean energy, and expanding economic opportunities for all New Yorkers,” Hochul said in a statement. “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. These projects will create good-paying union jobs and demonstrate that New York is leading the nation to build the offshore wind industry.
This week’s groundbreaking at the Boys and Girls Club of Bellport on Long Island officially kicked off the start of the Sunrise Wind project which will support more than 800 direct jobs during the construction phase of the project and will spur economic benefits from the Capital Region to Long Island – including a $700 million investment in Suffolk County alone.
It will be built under project labor agreements ensuring local union labor’s participation in all phases of construction. The project will be located approximately 30 miles east of Montauk, New York, with an approved transmission route connecting to the State’s electricity grid at the Holbrook Substation in the Town of Brookhaven in Suffolk County.
Sunrise Wind has already completed all major federal and state permitting milestones and received approval of its Construction and Operations Plan (COP) from the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) on June 21, 2024.
“I congratulate Ørsted on this momentous groundbreaking of Sunrise Wind, a catalyst for creating new family-sustaining job opportunities and bringing significant economic benefits to local communities,” said New York State Energy Research and Development Authority president and CEO Doreen M. Harris. “Today’s shovels in the ground, paired with the launch of New York’s fifth offshore wind solicitation, 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.”
