Statement: South Fork Wind Project Receives Critical Vote

The New York State Public Service Commission today unanimously voted to grant the Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need for New York’s South Fork Wind Farm. This is the key state permit for the South Fork Wind Farm’s export cable and is another indication that the U.S. offshore wind industry is one step closer to being the cornerstone renewable energy solution the Biden Administration is working to advance.

The South Fork Wind Farm, comprised of 15 turbines located 35 miles off the coast of Montauk, New York, would be the first offshore wind farm for the state and is expected to begin operations in 2023. Earlier this year, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management released the project’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement for public comment. Today’s decision specifically addresses the project’s export cable, which will make landfall at Beach Lane in Wainscott and will ultimately interconnect to the onshore grid at the Cove Hollow Road substation in East Hampton. This is a critical step in authorizing construction and operation of the wind project that will power 70,000 homes and reduce carbon emissions, supporting the New York State’s goal to adopt 100 percent clean energy.

Ross Gould, the Network’s vice president for supply chain development: “This is great news for the U.S. offshore wind industry. Following last week’s Vineyard Wind decision, it is another stamp of approval that shows states are demanding and working toward solutions, like offshore wind energy, for a green energy alternative. Today’s unanimous vote also shows that the U.S. is moving ahead with offshore wind projects that will unlock hundreds of millions of dollars of economic opportunities for New York businesses and thousands of well-paying jobs.”