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New York Offshore Wind

  • The Atlantic Ocean off the east coast of the United States features some of the best wind power resources in the world. The wind is strong and consistent, and peak winds correspond to daily peak electricity demand.

  • The Atlantic Ocean off the coast of New York has the potential to support thousands of megawatts of wind-driven power generation, and with each megawatt of offshore wind capable of powering more than 400 homes, millions of New Yorkers could get their electricity from this clean, reliable, cost-effective source. 

  • Offshore wind turbines can currently generate 6 MW per turbine, and with technological advances, turbine size is expected to increase to as much as 10 MW in the next decade. In addition, with the Atlantic Ocean's strong and consistent wind, offshore wind turbines are continuously spinning, and feature a high capacity factor of up to 45% or more, making them an extremely reliable source. 

  • The nation's first five offshore wind turbines, which were recently installed in Rhode Island state waters three miles off of Block Island, each have a nameplate capacity of 6 MW and are 589 feet tall to the tip of the turbine blade. The entire project will provide up to 30 MW of power to Block Island and the mainland of Rhode Island. 

  • Offshore wind will save money for all New Yorkers by deferring the need to build costly new fossil-fired power plants and controversial transmission lines in downstate New York. By the 2020's, New York City and Long Island will need more than 1,000 MW of new power generation. Offshore wind built with New York labor and installed over the horizon off the coast of Long Island can serve this need by delivering clean power directly where it's needed. The contracted price of offshore wind power in Europe has dropped more than 50% in the last seven years due to scale and technological improvements, to the point where it is now cost competitive with new fossil-fired generation. A serious commitment by policymakers to utilize New York's indigenous offshore wind resource can have the same effect here. 

  • Large-scale offshore wind development and its requisite supply chain can be a major economic driver for New York. 

    • A study from SUNY Stony Brook showed that construction of 2,500 MW of offshore wind capacity could mean more than 58,000 FTE jobs and $12.9 billion in local economic output for Long Island. (Offshore Wind Energy and Potential Economic Impacts in Long Island, New York Energy Policy Institute, Stony Brook University, November 25, 2014)

    • In 2014, with just over 8,000 megawatts of offshore wind installed, the European offshore wind industry supported 75,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs (Renewable Energy and JObs-Annual Review 2015, International Renewable Energy Agency, May 2015).

  • Based on experience in Europe, properly sited offshore wind turbines will have minimal impact on human activities including fishing, shipping, aviation and view sheds. In addition, wildlife impacts, including birds, marine mammals and fisheries, can be minimized through responsible siting, construction and operation techniques. 

  • Supporters of offshore wind power run the gamut from major environmental organizations to municipal, labor, community and business leaders; supply chain companies, including major manufacturers and vessel operators; and developers, including offshore wind and port developers.