South Fork Partners Award Onshore Work to Local Construction Company

Eversource and Ørsted have selected Long Island-based contractor Haugland Energy Group to install the underground duct bank system for the onshore transmission line for their 132 MW South Fork offshore wind farm and to lead the construction of the project’s onshore interconnection facility located in East Hampton, New York.

David Hardy, Chief Executive Officer of Ørsted Offshore North America, said that this agreement was a critical step for South Fork Wind and for New York in advancing construction of the state’s landmark first offshore wind project.

South Fork is now on track to be fully permitted in the early part of this year with onshore construction work beginning soon after, after the US Department of the Interior (DOI) approved the construction and operation of the 132 MW offshore wind project in November 2021.

“Transmission is our expertise at Eversource, and together with Haugland Group, we will combine our decades of knowledge to ensure a smooth transition to clean, renewable energy for thousands of New Yorkers”, said Joe Nolan, Chief Executive Officer and President of Eversource Energy. “We are excited to start this work soon and even more excited to be doing it hand in hand with local union labor”.

According to Eversource and Ørsted, the agreement Haugland Energy Group will create more than 100 union jobs for Long Island skilled trades workers, including heavy equipment operators, electricians, line workers, and local delivery drivers who will support transportation of materials to the project site.

“Partnering with a local union contractor like Haugland Group is central to our commitment to continue building a new U.S. offshore wind industry that provides good-paying jobs in and clean energy to the communities we serve”, said David Hardy, Chief Executive Officer of Ørsted Offshore North America.

Haugland Group affiliates are signatory to several local unions, including the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1049 and International Union of Operating Engineers Local 138, who will serve as the source of construction labor for the project. In addition to Haugland Energy Group, several other local businesses will support the project’s construction activities and will prioritise local sourcing of construction materials, benefitting Long Island’s economy and further expanding the domestic offshore wind supply chain in New York State, the South Fork Wind developers said.

“Embracing renewable energy resources like offshore wind are critical, not only to bolster Long Island’s infrastructure, but also to infuse our local community with tremendous economic growth as it provides new opportunities to our labor force, local businesses and contracting community”, said Billy Haugland, Co-President of Haugland Group.

“This is a shining example of the economic benefits that Long Island will reap from offshore wind”, said Matt Cohen, President & CEO of the Long Island Association. “The partnership between Eversource, Ørsted, and the Haugland Group should serve as a national model for how regions can support job growth and build their economy through offshore wind while combating climate change at the same time”.

The South Fork wind farm will comprise twelve 11 MW Siemens Gamesa turbines installed at the project site some 30 kilometres (19 miles) southeast of Block Island, Rhode Island, and some 56 kilometres (35 miles) east of Montauk Point, New York.

With 132 MW of capacity, New York’s first offshore wind farm will power approximately 70,000 households each year with clean energy once it begins operations at the end of 2023.