Long Islanders Launch Offshore Wind Coalition

Labour, environment, and community organisations from Long Island, New York, have formed an offshore wind coalition called Wind Works Long Island.

The coalition’s mission is to focus on educating Long Islanders about the wide-ranging benefits of offshore wind energy, Wind Works Long Island says in a press release.

“Transitioning away from fossil fuels to fight climate change is a necessity and we don’t have the luxury of waiting. Offshore wind power can play a significant role in this transition”, said Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment. “The public needs science and fact based information about this technology and our coalition will provide this educational need.”

In 2019, New York set a goal of achieving 9 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2035, which is so far the most ambitious target set by a U.S. state.

At least three major offshore wind projects will be located off Long Island, the coalition pointed out. Wind Works Long Island further added that these projects offered the opportunity for significant economic development, creating a skilled green-economy workforce, and establishing a foothold for a major industry in the near future.

At the same time, the offshore wind farms would be a driver to New York meeting its goal of 70 per cent of electricity being produced from renewable sources by 2030.

“When the region emerges from the corona virus pandemic, the rapid development of clean energy industries such as offshore wind will play an essential role in fighting climate change and powering New York’s economic recovery”, said Roger Clayman, Executive Director of the Long Island Federation of Labor. “As we come together on Earth Day, it is vital that we advocate for a clean energy economy at the scale climate science demands, create good union jobs, and support more equitable communities and a more resilient island”.  

“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to ensure that the path to a low-carbon future will create new quality jobs that provide family-sustaining wages and economic development for our communities. Long Island can be a leader in combating climate change”, said Mariah Dignan, Long Island Organizer for Climate Jobs NY.

Wind Works Long Island will be reaching to the public through its website, emails, educational forums and materials, etc.