South Fork Wind Project Makes History as America’s First Utility-Scale Offshore Wind Farm

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has announced the completion of South Fork Wind, America’s first utility-scale offshore wind farm. With all 12 offshore wind turbines constructed, the project is now successfully delivering power to Long Island and the Rockaways.

The South Fork Wind project, also marks the beginning of New York’s journey into offshore wind energy.

U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland praised the completion of the project. “Today is further proof that America’s clean energy transition is not a dream for a distant future – it’s happening right here and now,” she said.

The South Fork Wind project, developed by Ørsted and Eversource, consists of 12 turbines installed off the coast of Montauk, delivering clean power to the local Long Island electric grid. At full power, the wind farm will generate enough renewable energy to power approximately 70,000 homes, eliminating up to six million tons of carbon emissions, equivalent to taking 60,000 cars off the roads for the next two decades.

The project supports progress towards New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act requirements to achieve 70 percent renewable energy by 2030 and install nine gigawatts of offshore wind by 2035.

The South Fork Wind project, first approved in 2017, began construction in 2022 with the onshore export cable system linking the project to the Long Island electric grid. The project reached a significant milestone in June 2023 with the installation of its first monopile foundation, and the final turbine was installed in February.

National Climate Advisor to President Biden, Ali Zaidi, emphasized the importance of the milestone.

“This historic milestone will not only advance President Biden’s ambitious climate goals but also create good-paying jobs, strengthen our power grid, support workers and enhance the quality of life for all New Yorkers,” Zaidi said.

During the construction of South Fork Wind, hundreds of U.S. workers and three Northeast ports were engaged, laying the foundations of a new domestic supply chain and creating local union jobs. The project involved local union workers from Connecticut and Rhode Island, and its completion was supported by New York union workers.

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