Sunrise Wind, the largest offshore wind project in New York, has secured approval for its Construction and Operations Plan (COP) from the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM).
This marks the final federal green light required to initiate offshore construction on the project.
Powering New York with Clean Energy
With a capacity of 924 megawatts, Sunrise Wind will generate sufficient clean energy to power nearly 600,000 New York homes. This initiative will aid New York in reaching its mandate of 70% renewable electricity by 2030, while simultaneously fostering the state’s expanding offshore wind workforce and supply chain.
Sunrise Wind is projected to create 800 direct jobs in New York, thousands of indirect jobs, and substantial economic benefits spanning from the Capital Region to Long Island. This includes a significant $700 million investment in Suffolk County alone.
Leaders Applaud Approval
Governor Kathy Hochul, Senator Chuck Schumer, Congressman Paul Tonko, Congressman Andrew Garbarino, NYSERDA President and CEO Doreen M. Harris, and Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine all expressed their enthusiasm for the project’s progress and its potential to drive economic growth, create jobs, and provide clean energy to New Yorkers.
The Sunrise Wind team is now expediting work on the onshore transmission system, with offshore construction slated to ramp up later this year at the project site located approximately 30 miles east of Montauk, NY. The project is anticipated to be operational by 2026.
Industry Leaders Express Optimism
David Hardy, Group EVP and CEO Americas at Ørsted, and Joe Nolan, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Eversource Energy, conveyed their excitement about the final approval and highlighted the project’s role in advancing New York’s clean energy goals and fostering economic development.