In a press release Wednesday, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the beginning of construction on the Sunrise Wind project, the largest offshore wind project in New York State. According to the press release, New York State officials expect it to be operational in 2026. Ground was officially broken at the Boys and Girls Club of Bellport.
The 924-megawatt Sunrise Wind project was developed by a Danish energy company, Orsted (which also developed the South Fork Wind project, a smaller offshore operation completed earlier this year). Located 30 miles east from the coast of Montauk, Sunrise Wind will connect to the state’s electricity grid via an approved transmission route to the Holbrook Substation in the Town of Brookhaven.
It is anticipated that Sunrise Wind will provide enough clean energy to power approximately 600,000 homes in New York. Additionally, according to the press release, it "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."
In addition to the groundbreaking, Governor Hochul confirmed that her administration will continue its forward charge into renewable energy development by also announcing that New York State is issuing a fifth solicitation for offshore wind projects, to be administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.
The governor believes projects like Sunrise Wind are positive for both the state and local economy, as well necessary in the fight against climate change: "By breaking ground on Sunrise Wind and advancing the next wave of offshore wind projects," she said in the press release, "New York is passing a tremendous milestone to combat climate change." In addition, "these projects will create good-paying union jobs and demonstrate that New York is leading the nation to build the offshore wind industry."
