On the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day–Announcing Wind Works Long Island
New Coalition Will Provide Science Based Public Education on Offshore Wind Power
Press Release - April 21, 2020
Contacts:
Adrienne Esposito, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, 631-384-1378
Roger Clayman, LI Fed of Labor, 631-418-7550
Shachar Sharon, NYLCV, 917-579-1437
Joe Martens, Alliance for Clean Energy, 518-300-0945
In honor of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, labor, environment, and community organizations have come together and are launching a new coalition called Wind Works Long Island, whose mission is to focus on educating Long Islanders about the wide-ranging benefits of offshore wind energy.
Wind Works Long Island believes that public understanding and engagement in our energy transition away from fossil fuels is critical to meeting New York’s climate change goals. Long Island is poised to play a central role in the development of offshore wind (OSW) power in New York. Last year, Governor Cuomo signed the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, which commits NY to an unprecedented goal of 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind generating capacity by 2035, and at least three major OSW projects are to be sited off Long Island shores.
“Transitioning away from fossil fuels to fight climate change is a necessity and we don’t have the luxury of waiting. Offshore wind power can play a significant role in this transition. The public needs science and fact based information about this technology and our coalition will provide this educational need. We will be reaching to the public through our new website, emails, educational forums and materials, and more in the months ahead,” said Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment.
These projects offer the opportunity for significant economic development, creating a skilled green-economy workforce, and establishing a foothold for a major industry in the near future – all while combating climate change and driving our state’s success in meeting its goal of 70 percent electricity from renewable sources by 2030.
Roger Clayman, Executive Director of the Long Island Federation of Labor said, “On Earth Day 2020 the Long Island Federation of Labor acknowledges the remarkable contributions made by frontline workers in hospitals, nursing homes, grocery stores, transportation and many other public services who are helping all of us in this unprecedented health care emergency. When the region emerges from the corona virus pandemic, the rapid development of clean energy industries such as offshore wind will play an essential role in fighting climate change and powering New York’s economic recovery. As we come together on Earth Day, it is vital that we advocate for a clean energy economy at the scale climate science demands, create good union jobs, and support more equitable communities and a more resilient island.”
"Climate Jobs NY looks forward to working with the Wind Works Long Island coalition to promote offshore wind development on Long Island. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to ensure that the path to a low-carbon future will create new quality jobs that provide family-sustaining wages and economic development for our communities. Long Island can be a leader in combating climate change," said Mariah Dignan, Long Island Organizer for Climate Jobs NY.
In addition to forming the coalition, Wind Works Long Island has developed a website to ensure the public has ready access to science and facts about offshore wind so they can make educated and well-informed decisions. The website provides peer-reviewed reports, FAQs, and a schedule of public OSW-centric community forums throughout the island. New York. www.windworkslongisland.org
Julie Tighe, President of the New York League of Conservation Voters, said, "After fifty years of relentless advocacy, New York’s infrastructure plans are finally matching its environmental goals. The development of offshore wind infrastructure is a critical step toward meeting the goals established in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act and a potential economic tool for restarting the economy after the pandemic. The New York League of Conservation Voters is a proud member of the Wind Works Long Island coalition and we will work as one to educate decision makers, stakeholders and the general public about the environmental, community and economic benefits of offshore wind for the island."
“The Sierra Club is proud to be a part of the Wind Works Long Island coalition,” said Jessica Enzmann, Long Island Organizer for the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign. “In these unprecedented times building offshore wind for Long Island will make our communities more resilient by creating thousands of family-sustaining jobs, increasing new economic investments in our communities and cleaning up air and water pollution that harms our families.”
“As New York and the nation recover from the COVID 19 pandemic, it’s more important than ever to invest in clean energy technologies like offshore wind. Offshore wind will bring thousands of good paying jobs to Long Island, replace polluting fossil fuel electric generating stations and help New York State meet its nation-leading renewable energy and greenhouse gas standards. The New York Offshore Wind Alliance (NYOWA) is proud to be member of Wind Works Long Island, a diverse coalition of environmental, labor and community groups dedicated to providing fact- and science-based information about offshore wind,” said NYOWA’ Director Joe Martens.
“It is clear that we must begin to heal the Earth. What a great beginning we could launch with the South Fork Wind Farm 35 miles off the coast of Montauk,” said Judith Hope, Win With Wind, East Hampton.
"Long Island's offshore winds are an abundant natural resource which now allows us to transition to an economy powered 100 percent with clean and renewable energy," said Gordian Raacke, Executive Director of Renewable Energy Long Island. "We are a proud member of Wind Works Long Island and look forward to work with our coalition partners to provide fact-based information to Long Islanders."
Neal Lewis, Executive Director, Sustainability Institute at Molloy College said, “The Sustainability Institute at Molloy College is proud to be a member of the Wind Works Long Island coalition. After decades of advocacy, offshore wind remains vitally important for Long Island as a source of sustainable, clean energy. This infinite domestic energy resource should be a big part of Long Island’s energy infrastructure leading us into a future of cleaner air and opportunities for green jobs. Unlike the uncertainty of energy generated by fossil fuels, the cost of energy from offshore wind is 100% predictable. This is especially important here on Long Island, where we have been at the forefront of numerous environmental challenges, where we need significant stability in electricity rates and the certainty to attract new businesses.”