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Offshore Wind Vision for NYC

By Maria DeKoning

Wind turbines in water

On September 23, 2021, Major de Blasio of New York City, announced a $191 million offshore wind plan to propel New York City into being the number one destination for the off-shore wind industry. The plan is set to take place over the course of 15 years and ensures that the city will meet its climate goals of 100% clean energy by 2040 and carbon neutrality by 2050.

How Does Offshore Wind Work?

Offshore wind energy is a renewable source of energy that is generated through turbines placed off-coast in large bodies of water. The wind produced on the high seas is much stronger than that produced on land. This is because there are no barriers hindering the wind from blowing at full force. Since there is no real fluctuation in wind production, offshore turbines can produce a consistent flow of energy.

Wind farms located offshore can operate at high capacity and over larger areas of space without worries of visual or acoustic impact. The turbines must be installed in shallow water less than away from any possible boat traffic.

What is the Vision?

The investment in off-shore wind plans to create jobs, utilize investment benefits towards women, minorities and environmental justice communities, and reduce tons of CO2. There are already five offshore wind projects already in motion that total more than 4,300 megawatts of energy.

The city plans on developing infrastructure that supports both the operation and construction of offshore wind farms and wants to commit to promoting green jobs in disadvantaged communities by accessing over $70 billion by the offshore wind industry.

Where Else Is There Offshore Wind?

The five operating Offshore Wind farms in development that are off the coast of New York are Empire Wind 1 and 2, Sunrise Wind, Beacon Wind, and the South Fork Wind Farm.

Empire Wind is located over 80,000 acres, roughly 20 miles south of Long Island, east of the Rockaway beaches. The Sunrise project will begin construction in 2022 and has the ability to provide more than 500,000 homes with renewable energy and is located 30 miles east of Montauk Point.

Construction of both Beacon Wind, located 20 miles south off the coast of Massachusetts and 60 miles east off the coast of Long Island, and the South Fork Wind Farm, located 19 miles southeast from the coast of Block Island, Rhode Island are also set to take place in 2022.

To read more about the NYC Offshore wind initiative visit the NYC Economic Development Corporation (EDC) website or visit the official website of the City of New York.

Galli Engineering knows and understands the need for a transition into renewable energy. Our landscape planning and design group is led by seasoned designers and engineers with an in-depth understanding of ecological design, preservation, and restoration. We see each project as an opportunity to provide thoughtful, creative, and contextual solutions for parks, plazas, playgrounds, and open space. To learn more about the services we offer, contact us today at 631-271-9292.

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Article by Maria DeKoning
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Maria DeKoning is the Social Media Coordinator and a Junior Environmental Scientist at Galli Engineering. When she is not writing blog posts for the company, she assists with environmental work such as Environmental Assessments and maintenance of the Galli social media pages. She enjoys researching new environmental topics and technology and making them known to the public through her writing.