Long Island native Matthew Kearns took off from Montauk to run over 100 miles to the Long Beach Boardwalk on June 13. He arrived in Long Beach that night greeted by a cheering crowd of over 1,000 people at the Sierra Club’s Wind 100 rally and concert.
The historic, 112-mile run is drawing attention to Long Island’s potential to develop clean, renewable offshore wind power off the coasts of Montauk and Long Beach. Building offshore wind would create jobs, drive millions of dollars in investments to Long Island and position New York as a national leader with one of America’s first offshore wind projects.
“Long Islanders know the dangers posed by climate disruption and we want to be part of the solution. We’re particularly vulnerable to stronger storms and rising seas, but this unique geography also gives us access to one of the most reliable renewable energy sources in the world just off our shores, ” said Kearns, a Sierra Club volunteer who grew up in East Setauket and currently lives in North Babylon . “We can be a national leader, but we need Governor Cuomo, our LIPA trustees and PSEG-Long Island to help get us there by committing to build offshore wind in New York.”
The run is supported by more than 20 local, state and national organizations in addition to the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce, Freeport Chamber of Commerce, the Long Island Federation of Labor and several state and local elected officials that join a growing chorus of offshore wind supporters including the Association for a Better Long Island and Suffolk County Executive Steven Bellone.
PSEG-Long Island along with LIPA’s trustees could decide this year to invest in an offshore wind project proposed 30 miles off the coast of Montauk that would produce enough renewable electricity to power 120,000 Long Island homes.
“When Governor Cuomo took over LIPA he promised us a 21st century utility. We need to hold him to that promise and at the same time build on Long Island’s reputation as a leader in innovation with 21st century energy sources, including job-creating offshore wind,” said Kearns .