NEW YORK – According to published reports, the Empire Wind offshore wind project has been approved to move forward after it was unexpectedly ordered to halt construction last month. The project, located off Long Island, could power more than 500,000 homes and support thousands of good-paying union jobs. Empire Wind also supports the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal, which would create more than 1,000 union jobs and apprenticeships in New York City.
Following is reaction from Kit Kennedy, managing director for power at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council):
“Sanity returns. The U.S. Department of the Interior’s unnecessary delay of Empire Wind simply made no sense. As Governor Hochul rightly noted, the federal government should be supporting projects that bring more abundant, affordable energy to New York—not standing in their way. Her efforts to get the project restarted were clearly essential to getting this much needed project back on track.
"All New Yorkers who want to breathe clean air should celebrate this fresh start for the Empire Wind project. The project will help to make our electricity bills more affordable and keep New York's electric grid stronger. Governor Hochul has shown the depth of her commitment to clean and affordable energy through her tenacious and successful efforts to rescue Empire Wind."
NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Established in 1970, NRDC uses science, policy, law and people power to confront the climate crisis, protect public health and safeguard nature. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Beijing and Delhi (an office of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd).
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