Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the successful delivery of clean power to Long Island from the first operational wind turbine at South Fork Wind, marking a historic milestone of the first utility-scale offshore wind farm in federal waters to begin “powering up” in the United States. The project has completed the installation of two turbines, with one operational, approximately 35 miles off Montauk with all 12 turbines expected to be installed by early 2024. Today’s announcement supports progress towards the State’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act goal to install nine gigawatts of offshore wind by 2035.

“New York's nation-leading efforts to generate reliable, renewable clean energy have reached a major milestone. South Fork Wind will power thousands of homes, create good-paying union jobs and demonstrate to all that offshore wind is a viable resource New York can harness for generations to come," 

Governor Hochul said. This milestone, which comes just two weeks after the installation of New York’s first offshore wind turbine, was celebrated in East Hampton alongside joint-venture partners Ørsted and Eversource, state, county and local officials, advocates and community members. When complete, South Fork Wind will generate approximately 130 megawatts of renewable energy, enough to power approximately 70,000 Long Island homes. The renewable energy from South Fork Wind will eliminate up to six million tons of carbon emissions each year, the equivalent of taking 60,000 cars off the road.

Long Island Power Authority CEO, Thomas Falcone, said:

“Today marks a significant step towards implementing Governor Hochul’s vision of a sustainable and resilient energy future for New York. Nearly eight years in the making, this first offshore wind turbine producing energy transforms that vision into a reality. LIPA is proud to support this landmark project on behalf of our 1.2 million customers on Long Island and in the Rockaways.

New York State Energy Research and Development Authority President and CEO Doreen M. Harris said:

“This moment represents years of hard work, vision, and the courage to lead in our energy transition. Long Island residents are now experiencing first-hand the benefits of their homes and businesses being powered with clean, renewable electricity from South Fork Wind, and we congratulate the teams at Orsted, Eversource, LIPA, the local leaders and the workers who built this incredible project on celebrating first power today.”

Chair of the New York State Public Service Commission Rory M. Christian said:

“Today’s delivery of clean, renewable electricity to Long Island is a major milestone in progress toward creating a clean-energy economy in New York State. It’s proof-positive that we will be able to reach our long-term goals to create a cleaner energy grid and a testament to Governor Hochul’s efforts to date.

Secretary of State Robert J. Rodriguez said:

“South Fork Wind is a major step forward in achieving the Governor’s clean energy goals. The nation is watching New York as we once again take the lead in offshore wind and continue to trailblaze toward a more sustainable future for New York’s communities. Thousands of Long Island households can now say they’re significantly reducing their carbon footprint. This project is a testament to the perseverance and coordination across all levels of government and industry. The Department of State played a key role in reducing the project’s siting impacts, creating a responsible path forward for this important development.”

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos said: 

“Thanks to the support of Governor Hochul and the efforts of DEC’s partners at LIPA and NYSERDA, New York State is taking critical steps to reduce climate-altering greenhouse gas emissions while creating jobs and bolstering local economies. The successful delivery of wind-powered energy to Long Island’s South Fork is a notable milestone in moving New Yorkers toward a green future powered by cleaner sources of energy.”

Ørsted Group EVP and CEO Americas David Hardy said:

“East Hampton has now made history as the first community in New York to receive clean energy from an offshore wind farm. South Fork Wind is not just a trailblazing project for the state, it’s also one of the foundations of America’s offshore wind energy industry and a testament to our team’s commitment, expertise and hard work. Thanks to the leadership of the Biden and Hochul administrations, and our state and local partners and supporters, South Fork Wind is powering up and setting the stage for a growing American industry.”

Eversource Energy Chairman, President and CEO Joe Nolan said:

“South Fork Wind is a project by New Yorkers, for New Yorkers. Clean, renewable offshore wind energy is now flowing to the local grid in East Hampton thanks especially to the hard work of local union workers and contractors who helped us build South Fork Wind’s transmission system and onshore substation. This has been a year of firsts for New York’s offshore wind industry, and there’s a lot more to come in the weeks ahead for this groundbreaking project and the growth of the U.S. offshore wind sector.”

First approved by the LIPA Board of Trustees in 2017, South Fork Wind began construction in February 2022, beginning with the onshore export cable system that links the project to the LIPA energy grid, which was completed early this year. The wind farm reached its “steel in the water” milestone in June 2023 with the installation of the project’s first monopile foundation. Van Oord’s offshore installation vessel, the Aeolus, is installing the turbines.

South Fork Wind includes the first U.S.-built offshore wind substation. More than 350 U.S. workers across three states supported construction of this offshore substation, a topside structure that collects the power produced by wind turbines and connects it to the grid. New York union workers supported its installation offshore.

Long Island-based contractor Haugland Energy Group LLC (an affiliate of Haugland Group LLC), installed the underground duct bank system for South Fork Wind’s onshore transmission line and led the construction of the project’s onshore interconnection facility. LS Cable installed and jointed the onshore cables with support from Long Island’s Elecnor Hawkeye. The onshore cable scope of work alone created more than 100 union jobs for Long Island skilled trades workers. Roman Stone, also on Long Island, manufactured concrete mattresses to protect the undersea cables, and Ljungstrom, located in western New York, in partnership with Riggs Distler & Company, Inc., provided specialized structural steelwork.

Source: Kathy Hochul