As the state of New York charges ahead with lofty energy goals, an offshore wind project is celebrating a milestone, and work to support it is taking place at the Port of Coeymans in Albany County.

“This is New York’s offshore wind supply chain at work,” said Doreen Harris, president and CEO of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).

One at a time, piece by piece, workers at the Port of Coeymans are constructing the foundation of what will be New York state’s largest offshore wind farm.

“The climate crisis demands that we meet our state’s obligations to get clean energy by 2030 and get to 100% clean energy by 2040,” said Julie Tighe, president of the New York League of Conservation Voters.

Sunrise Wind is a 924-megawatt project off the southern coast of Long Island that will help power about 600,000 homes once completed in 2026. Developed by an energy company called Ørsted, the project has triggered work as far north as the Capital Region.

“I am confident that this industry can become a major employer and create a major pathway to help create prosperity for people across the country, hundreds of thousands of workers,” said David Hardy, CEO of Ørsted Americas. 

More than 100 union workers have assembled about half of the 84 advanced foundation components that will eventually help support the wind turbines.

“Of course, we see the major components, the blades, the towers and the cells, but within that are literally thousands of subcomponents that come with, in this case, hundreds of jobs,” Harris said.

State leaders hope the work solidifies the Empire State’s place in the supply chain for years to come while moving toward its goal of 70% renewable energy by 2030.

“Offshore wind itself, our 9-gigawatt goal, has the potential to serve upwards of 30% of New York’s energy consumption. So, do the math. This is a game-changer with respect to progress,” Harris said.