Construction Complete and all 12 Turbines Are Powered Up at the First U.S. Commercial-Scale Offshore Wind Farm
Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) and Ørsted announced the completion of the landmark South Fork Wind project on March 14, 2024. Now, all 12 offshore wind turbines are fully constructed and the wind farm is successfully delivering power to Long Island and the Rockaways areas, marking a historic milestone as New York becomes home to America’s first utility-scale offshore wind farm.
Guice Offshore is proud to be among the many dedicated teams who made South Fork Wind a reality.
After final tests are conducted in the coming weeks, the project will be fully operational and provide 132 MW of electricity to the grid, enough to power over 70,000 homes and businesses. As one of the nation’s first commercial-scale projects, the completion of South Fork Wind marks a substantial milestone for the U.S. offshore wind industry signifying a new, operational era, it was noted by offshore wind industry trade organization Oceantic Network.
The project features important firsts for the U.S. market, including export cables manufactured at a South Carolina plant, an offshore substation fabricated in Texas, and the first U.S. Service Operation Vessel (SOV) that will soon launch in Louisiana. A new facility produced offshore turbine components in Providence, Rhode Island, and turbines were assembled at a rebuilt port in Connecticut. Dozens more companies provided services like stevedoring, engineering, and construction.
The completion of South Fork brings total U.S. offshore wind capacity to 242 MW (accounting for five operational turbines in Massachusetts). With the completion of Vineyard Wind, that number will rise to 974 MW. A further 8,300 MW has been approved for installation and states have entered contracts for over 16,000 MW of offshore wind power generation. These findings and more are included in Oceantic Network’s 2024 U.S. Offshore Wind Market Report.
All 12 of South Fork Wind’s turbines are installed and the wind farm is delivering clean power to the local Long Island electric grid, with commissioning in its final stage. At full capacity, the approximately 130-megawatt wind farm will generate enough renewable energy to power approximately 70,000 homes. The renewable energy is generated roughly 35 miles off the coast of Montauk, and will eliminate up to six million tons of carbon emissions over the life of the project, the equivalent of taking 60,000 cars off the road for the next twenty years.
First approved by the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) Board of Trustees in 2017, South Fork Wind began construction in February 2022, beginning with the onshore export cable system that links the project to the Long Island electric grid. The wind farm reached its “steel in the water” milestone in June 2023 with the installation of the project’s first monopile foundation, and its final turbine was installed in February.
South Fork Wind’s successful completion supports progress toward New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act requirements to achieve 70 percent renewable energy by 2030 and install nine gigawatts of offshore wind by 2035. This milestone follows Governor Hochul’s recent announcement of two offshore wind project awards, Empire Wind I and Sunrise Wind, for over 1,730 megawatts and $2 billion in near-term economic development investments.
Hundreds of U.S. workers and three Northeast ports supported South Fork Wind’s construction, helping to stand up the foundations of a new domestic supply chain that’s creating local union jobs across the Northeast and beyond.
South Fork Wind’s turbines were staged and assembled by local union workers at State Pier in New London, Connecticut. The project’s advanced foundation components were completed by local union workers at Ørsted and Eversource’s fabrication hub at ProvPort, in Rhode Island. Its crew vessels and crew change helicopter is based out of Quonset Point, Rhode Island. South Fork Wind includes the first U.S.-built offshore wind substation, built by more than 350 U.S. workers across three states, with New York union workers supporting its installation offshore.
Long Island-based contractor Haugland Energy Group LLC (an affiliate of Haugland Group LLC), installed the underground duct bank system for South Fork Wind’s onshore transmission line and led the construction of the project’s onshore interconnection facility. LS Cable installed and jointed the onshore cables with support from Long Island’s Elecnor Hawkeye. The onshore cable scope of work alone created more than 100 union jobs for Long Island skilled trades workers. Roman Stone, also on Long Island, manufactured concrete mattresses to protect the undersea cables, and Ljungstrom, located in western New York, in partnership with Riggs Distler & Company, Inc., provided specialized structural steelwork.
With South Fork Wind, the Empire State is piling up national offshore wind firsts. The project features the country’s first American-built offshore substation, and is the first offshore wind farm to use an American-made and -crewed service operations vessel. To provide long-term support to South Fork Wind, New York is opening its first Operations & Maintenance center in East Setauket and a first offshore wind training center in Brentwood.
Watch a video about South Fork Wind HERE.
“When I broke ground on the South Fork project, I made a promise to build a cleaner, greener future for all New Yorkers,” New York Governor Hochul said. “I’m keeping to that promise and South Fork Wind is now delivering clean energy to tens of thousands of homes and businesses on Long Island. With more projects in the pipeline, this is just the beginning of New York’s offshore wind future and I look forward to continued partnership with the Biden Administration and local leaders to build a clean and resilient energy grid.”
U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland said, “Every day, the Interior Department is answering President Biden’s call and moving rapidly to create a robust and sustainable clean energy economy that creates jobs, boosts local economies and helps address environmental justice. We’re thrilled to celebrate the completion of the South Fork project, which will deliver 130 megawatts of wind energy to Long Island. That’s enough to power more than 70,000 homes and businesses! Today is further proof that America’s clean energy transition is not a dream for a distant future – it’s happening right here and now.”
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority President and CEO Doreen M. Harris said, “Every milestone from breaking ground to first power and now full commercial operation has been a testament to Governor Hochul’s leadership and the commitment and tenacity of Orsted, Eversource, and LIPA along with the local leaders who championed the South Fork Wind project in order to bring clean renewable energy to Long Island residents and businesses. Congratulations to all on this historic achievement and our sincere appreciation for staying the course as we build New York’s offshore wind industry one turbine and countless blade turns at a time propelling us forward with the wind at our backs.”
Public Service Commission Chair Rory M. Christian said, “Clean, renewable power flowing from the South Fork Wind project is an important part of our overall mission to create a clean-energy economy in New York State. Kudos to Governor Hochul and the other parties involved who helped make this dream a reality.”
New York Secretary of State Robert J. Rodriguez said, “Offshore wind is not just a source of renewable clean energy but also fosters economic growth, energy independence and environmental protection. I applaud Governor Hochul’s continued commitment to advancing the transition to a cleaner and more sustainable energy future for the communities on Long Island and New York State.”
Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos said, “I applaud Governor Hochul’s commitment to advancing a clean energy economy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions to benefit Long Islanders and all New Yorkers. Offshore energy generated from South Fork Wind is now delivering power to more than 70,000 homes, marking a huge milestone in the State’s Climate Act targets and continuing New York’s progress in ensuring a greener, more prosperous, and equitable future for generations to come.”
Ørsted Group EVP and CEO Americas David Hardy said, “From the first steel in the water to the final turbine, our hard-working offshore wind construction team has put South Fork Wind on the path to making American energy history. We’re incredibly proud of our dedicated project, permit and construction teams, and all those who have made this milestone possible. We’re thankful, too, for the tremendous leadership of the Biden and Hochul administrations, and for the steadfast support of the East Hampton community and beyond.”
Eversource Energy Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Joe Nolan said, “We’re incredibly proud to complete South Fork Wind, the country’s first utility-scale offshore wind farm in federal waters. Thanks to the local union workers and contractors who helped us build South Fork Wind’s transmission system and onshore substation, clean energy is flowing to the Long Island grid. Building South Fork Wind was a true regional effort and couldn’t have been realized without the support and investment in ports at ProvPort in Rhode Island and the New London State Pier in Connecticut.”
Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine said, “Today, history is made in Suffolk County. Thanks to the leadership of Governor Hochul and our representatives in the federal government, we have been able to set an example for the rest of New York State on embracing new technologies and bringing wind-generated energy to an entire region while making utility costs more affordable for our residents. It is a great achievement.”
East Hampton Town Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez said, “We are immensely proud to witness the completion of the South Fork Wind Farm project, ten years after the East Hampton Town Board demonstrated the courage and vision to become the first municipality in New York State to set the goal of meeting 100% of our community’s energy consumption needs with renewable energy sources by 2030. We are thrilled to have played a direct role in the success of the project when the Town Board voted 4-1, granting the easement to bring the power of wind ashore, paving the way for a cleaner, more sustainable future for generations to come. And we are grateful to Governor Hochul for her exceptional leadership, dedication, and continued commitment to championing statewide renewable energy initiatives.”
Long Island Power Authority CEO Thomas Falcone said, “The completion of South Fork Wind marks a historic achievement for the State of New York and for our nation. Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, LIPA is proud to be a partner in this landmark project, and we will continue to pursue our collective vision for a sustainable and resilient energy future that creates jobs, builds our economy, and protects our environment.”
New York League of Conservation Voters President Julie Tighe said, “Today marks a major step in New York’s transition away from fossil fuels and toward a clean energy future with less air pollution choking our communities. After years of planning and countless hours of labor and construction – many of those union hours – South Fork Wind is complete and delivering clean electricity from offshore wind to New York homes and business. We congratulate Governor Hochul, Orsted and Eversource on this remarkable first-in-the-nation achievement. With the governor’s bold climate leadership, and with smart and innovative companies that are committed to developing – and capable of delivering – large-scale renewable energy projects, New York’s clean energy future is bright.”
New York State AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento said, “Today marks a major milestone toward achieving the state’s goal of transitioning to clean energy with the use of highly skilled union labor. We applaud Governor Hochul for delivering on her promise to ensure that our renewable energy future creates family-sustaining jobs with benefits and protections guaranteed by union contracts.”
New York State Building Trades President Gary LaBarbera said, “The completion and full integration of South Fork Wind not only positions New York as a national leader in climate initiatives, but also stands as a testament to the union careers, economic stimulus and clean energy production that can be generated by green infrastructure projects. We applaud Governor Hochul and NYSERDA for their continued efforts to uplift the green economy and push forward initiatives that provide hardworking New Yorkers with accessible opportunities to pursue the middle class and support their families. Most importantly, we are proud of the accomplishments of our skilled tradesmen and tradeswomen who played a critical role in getting this project across the finish line and getting wind energy delivered to thousands of homes on Long Island.”
Long Island Federation of Labor President John R. Durso said, “South Fork Wind was constructed with union labor and we expect it to be operated with union labor. Today’s announcement is proof positive that we can address the climate crisis and create good union jobs in the process. We look forward to working with New York State, the offshore wind industry, and all other stakeholders who are interested in a brighter future with good family sustaining wages.”
Long Island Association President & CEO Matt Cohen said, “Long Island has played a key role in our nation’s greatest technological achievements – the first transatlantic flight, the discovery of DNA, and landing on the moon – now we can add South Fork Wind, the nation’s first operational wind farm in federal waters – to the history books. I applaud the Biden Administration, Governor Hochul, and LIPA for their commitment to clean energy and the resulting economic and environmental benefits, as well as Ørsted, Eversource, and Haugland Group for their investment in our region.”
Building and Construction Trades Council of Nassau and Suffolk Counties President Matthew Aracich said, “I’m very proud that Long Island is leading the way towards our green energy future. The South Fork Wind project is the culmination of efforts by Governor Hochul, NYSERDA, Ørsted, and Eversource. This industry defining project, which was nation’s first industrial scale offshore wind project on the Eastern Seaboard, will continue to provide residual benefits for years to come. Long Island’s youth should expect to see new opportunities in the very near future through apprentice training programs. The building trades pipeline, leveraging the best career training possible, will continue to provide opportunities for family sustaining wages.”
New York Offshore Wind Alliance Director Fred Zalcman said, “As we commemorate the completion of the South Fork Wind Farm, the first of many offshore wind farms to provide New York with clean, emissions-free electric power, let us always remember and replicate the formula that got us here. It takes visionary leadership from local, county, and state elected officials; strong commitment and community engagement from civic leaders across the labor, business, and environmental spectrum; innovative public policy in transitioning to newer and more sustainable forms of electric generation; and the skill, experience, and investment capabilities of leading developers to orchestrate the design and construction of these massive infrastructure projects.”
The Nature Conservancy in New York Policy and Strategy Director Jessica Ottney Mahar said, “Completion of the first utility-scale offshore wind farm in the United States is an important national milestone, a significant step towards achieving New York State’s ambitious climate goals, and essential for delivering clean energy directly to New Yorkers. We commend Governor Hochul and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority for leading the way, and in doing so, cleaning the air we breathe and improving public health. We appreciate the state’s approach that prioritizes improving marine habitat alongside building renewable energy. We are proud to collaborate with NYSERDA, the Regional Wildlife Science Collaborative on Offshore Wind, and the Responsible Offshore Science Alliance to support clean energy investments that benefit people and wildlife today and long into the future.”
Win With Wind Founder Judith Hope said, “This is a proud day for the East End of Long Island and an important step towards New York’s clean energy future.”
Citizens Campaign for the Environment Executive Director Adrienne Esposito said,“Offshore wind power creates the path to free our nation from our addiction to fossil fuels and establishes a gateway to new beginnings for cleaner energy generation. We’re excited to celebrate this monumental occasion where yesterday’s dream becomes today’s reality. There are very few moments in time that we can see positive change for our future and this is one of them. We applaud Governor Hochul, NYSERDA and all the members of the public for forging a path forward to make this project successful.”
Renewable Energy Long Island Executive Director Gordian Raacke said, “The completion of the South Fork Wind Farm marks a pivotal moment for offshore wind and the urgently needed transition to renewable energy here on Long Island and New York. The years of hard work of so many paid off and prove that we can, in fact, build a clean energy economy.”
Group for the East End President Bob DeLuca said, “We applaud the completion of South Fork Wind, and the hope it inspires for both a clean energy future, and a sustaining commitment to meaningful climate action for Long Island, and across New York State.”
Concerned Citizens of Montauk Executive Director Kay Tyler said, “For more than 50 years, Montauk has been at the forefront of environmental protection, and we are so proud to have South Fork Wind associated with our tiny-but-mighty hamlet. This landmark project, right in our backyard, ushers in a new era in clean and renewable energy for our community, our state, and our country, now and for future generations. Thanks to Governor Hochul and all those who fought so hard as the trailblazers in this monumental effort to re-set the standard by proving that these goals are critical, attainable and now a reality.”
Permitting Council Executive Director, Eric Beightel said, “This is a celebratory day for the Permitting Council, as we witness the first FAST-41 offshore wind project to complete the permitting process officially launch into full-scale operation, permitting offshore wind projects was a novel concept when this project first gained FAST-41 coverage, but our work to bring coordination, collaboration, and transparency to its permitting set up standards that are now helping over a dozen more offshore wind projects make their way through the federal permitting process. This work is making a difference in the Biden-Harris administration’s ambitious renewable energy goals, and we are just getting started.”
Liz Burdock, founder and CEO of Oceantic Network said:
“The U.S. offshore wind industry now enters a new phase with its first operational commercial-scale wind farm. Now the question is no longer if we can, but how fast we can. A robust collection of U.S. supply chain companies and unions supported development of this project, and the entire U.S. industry should take huge pride in this milestone. The U.S.’s first completed commercial-scale project is providing clean, renewable offshore wind energy to communities and homes. The Network applauds the efforts of Ørsted and its partners to develop this project, which now shines as a symbol of our industry’s ability to get big things done. We’d also like to recognize the State of New York, Governor Kathy Hochul, and the countless public servants and workers across the supply chain whose hard work has made this project a reality.”
Additional Information:
About South Fork Wind
South Fork Wind brings unparalleled experience in developing offshore wind as a 50/50 partnership between Ørsted, the global leader in offshore wind and a global leader in climate action, and Eversource. Eversource is a national energy leader with homegrown expertise in regional energy transmission, including more than 100 years of experience delivering power to the region. Ørsted – which has been ranked the most sustainable energy developer in the world – envisions a world run entirely on green energy while Eversource is one of the nation’s most responsible companies, as ranked by Newsweek, Forbes and JUST capital and has committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2030, faster than any other utility in the U.S.
About Ørsted
A global clean energy leader, Ørsted develops, constructs, and operates offshore and land-based wind farms, solar farms, energy storage facilities, and bioenergy plants. Ørsted was the first energy company in the world to have its science-based net-zero emissions target validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and is recognized as the world’s most sustainable energy developer in the Corporate Knights Global 100 index.
In the United States, the company has approximately 700 employees and a portfolio of clean energy assets and partnerships that includes offshore wind energy, land-based wind energy, solar, battery storage and e-fuels. Ørsted is a U.S. leader in offshore wind energy with approximately 3 gigawatts in development and operates America’s first offshore wind farm, located off the coast of Block Island. Ørsted has a total U.S. land-based capacity of 5 gigawatts across wind, solar, storage technologies and e-fuels. To learn more about the Ørsted U.S. business, visit us.orsted.com or follow the company on Twitter (@OrstedUS), Instagram, and Facebook.
