New York State to Launch $20 Million Offshore Wind Training Institute

New York State has announced plans to launch a $20 million training institute to train thousands of workers in areas related to offshore wind development.

The State University of New York (SUNY) and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) together announced the Offshore Wind Training Institute. At $20 million, New York said the training institute marks is the largest public offshore wind investment by any state in the U.S. The institute will seek to train about 2,500 workers who will support New York State’s goal of developing 9,000 MW of offshore wind power generation by 2035, which Governor Cuomo outlined in his 2021 State of the State address.

The institute will be a partnership between SUNY’s Farmingdale State College and Stony Brook University on Long Island.

“SUNY is proud to partner with NYSERDA to launch New York State’s Offshore Wind Training Institute, a crucial component of Governor Cuomo’s plan to expand New York’s offshore wind and renewable energy industries,” said State University of New York Chancellor Jim Malatras. “As we rebuild the post-COVID economy, we must focus on up-and-coming industries that are primed for growth.”

Last month, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority awarded Equinor and its strategic partner BP with a deal to develop two large offshore wind farms off New York State in what was said to be one of the largest renewable energy procurements in the United States history. The award includes stipulations that the companies will partner with the State to transform two New York ports, the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal (SBMT) and the Port of Albany, into large-scale offshore wind industrial facilities, positioning New York to become an offshore wind industry hub.

“Governor Cuomo has taken the necessary actions to position New York as a national hub for the U.S. offshore wind industry, serving as a catalyst to attract significant private investments in the state and create thousands of well-paying jobs,” said Doreen Harris, Acting President and CEO of NYSERDA. “We are excited to partner with SUNY on this initiative, which will deliver opportunities across the state to prepare and train New Yorkers to work on the state’s first and future offshore wind projects as well as to provide a pipeline of talent for other offshore wind projects in the U.S.”

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