EAST HAMPTON, NY – A group of Suffolk County elected officials has expressed their support for Sunrise Wind, an offshore wind project aimed at providing clean energy to thousands of homes on Long Island.
Sunrise Wind is a joint venture between Orsted, a leading Danish climate action organization, and Eversource, a national clean energy leader. The project has been in progress since 2019 and is expected to be completed by 2026. Once operational, it will generate approximately 924 megawatts of power, supplying energy to nearly 600,000 homes across Long Island.
Located approximately 30 miles east of Montauk, Sunrise Wind plans to connect its cables through Smith Point Beach to the electricity grid in Holbrook. The goal of the project is to provide 70% renewable energy to the residents of the island by 2030 and achieve 100% renewable energy by 2040. The long-term vision is to establish Sunrise Wind as a national energy hub.
The project has garnered bipartisan support from officials across Suffolk County, with representatives from both major political parties recognizing the importance of transitioning to renewable energy sources. County Executive Ed Romaine, state Assemblyman Joe DeStefano, Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico, and other business and labor leaders have all expressed their backing for Sunrise Wind.
Romaine emphasized that the project transcends political affiliations, stating, “Here, this is not a Democrat or Republican issue. Our focus is local, and since we all live here, we want to solve the problems together to get this done. When I look at the future, I realize we’re going to need more energy than ever: Why not renewable?”
In addition to the environmental benefits, Sunrise Wind has already made a significant impact on Long Island’s economy. With a $700 million investment in jobs, assets, and partnerships across Suffolk County, the project has created numerous employment opportunities for local residents.
Meaghan Wims, a spokesperson for Sunrise Wind, highlighted the economic advantages, stating, “The project will deliver major economic benefits and local jobs to New York… while accelerating the state’s growing offshore wind workforce and supply chain.”
While Sunrise Wind has garnered widespread support, officials have also addressed concerns regarding its potential impact on marine life and fisheries. Wims emphasized the project’s commitment to coexistence with wildlife, stating, “We’ve taken great care to ensure that offshore wind and wildlife coexist and thrive. We’ve set the industry standard by agreeing to uniform 1 x 1 nautical mile spacing across and gridded layout of our lease areas. This is the widest spacing of any offshore wind farm in the world.”
Sunrise Wind is not the only offshore wind project in progress by Orsted and Eversource. They are also working on South Fork Wind and Revolution Wind. South Fork Wind is expected to provide 132 MW of energy to New York and is set to become the first utility-scale offshore wind farm in US waters.
Revolution Wind, on the other hand, will supply Rhode Island and Connecticut with 704 MW of power, with offshore construction slated to commence in the coming months.
With the support of elected officials, Sunrise Wind is poised to revolutionize Long Island’s energy landscape, ensuring a greener and more sustainable future for the region.
