Month-Long Series of Activities Will Be Held to Empower Staten Islanders to Learn about the OSW Industry and Create a Clean Energy Community
New York is Emerging as a National Hub for the Rapidly Growing OSW Industry and has Committed to Investing Approximately $191 Million in the Ecosystem over the Next 15 Years
NEW YORK, NY—New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) has launched The Summer of Offshore Wind on Staten Island, a free event series that will educate Staten Islanders, including families, local businesses, and community institutions, about the existing and future opportunities that the offshore wind (OSW) industry will bring to Staten Island communities and the local economy. The OSW industry has already begun to make a mark on Staten Island, with potential to grow into a major source of energy and family-sustaining jobs.
The series of over 20 free pop-up events will be held throughout the month of June. The events will feature opportunities for Staten Islanders to learn more about different OSW job opportunities arising, attend a boat tour to see where the facilities are being built, spend a family day on the beach to build wind turbines, and more. To see a full event calendar, click here.
The OSW industry will play a pivotal role in achieving the City’s ambitious climate goal of 100 percent clean electricity by 2040, and carbon neutrality by 2050. The sector is poised to employ over 13,000 New Yorkers by 2030 and generate a supply chain of $109 billion for the east coast. In September 2021, NYCEDC unveiled the Offshore Wind NYC Initiative, a 15-year $191 million OSW Vision Plan to establish New York City as a leader in the OSW industry. In March 2022, Mayor Adams and NYCEDC announced an agreement to transform South Brooklyn Marine Terminal into one of the largest offshore wind port facilities in the nation.
“EDC’s Summer of Offshore Wind is a sustained and focused effort to engage communities across Staten Island on the economic potential of the offshore wind sector. Offshore Wind is a priority for me and the Adams administration, an initiative that will help accelerate the city’s climate goals, create new jobs, and support New York City’s industrial sector,” said Deputy Mayor for Economic and Workforce Development Maria Torres-Springer.
“New York City is leading the way in offshore wind development and ensuring the industry continues to grow in our communities, creating family-sustaining jobs, and providing clean, renewable energy for years to come,” said NYCEDC President & CEO Andrew Kimball. “We are proud to launch the Summer of Offshore Wind series – bringing events to educate Staten Islanders about the opportunities this transformative industry will offer right in their backyard.”
“With New York Bight being leased right off our shores, our city has more opportunities to expand students’ STEM education options and create maritime and clean-energy jobs right here in our community,” said Congresswomen Nicole Malliotakis. “To achieve energy independence we need energy diversification, and I appreciate the work NYC EDC is doing to educate the public about the environmental and economic benefits offshore wind will provide.”
“This event series is an exciting opportunity for our community to learn about the potential of the offshore wind industry and the economic benefits it can bring to this district. This industry is already making its mark on Staten Island, and we have the chance to become a major hub for renewable energy. I am excited for my constituents to participate in these events and be part of shaping a greener and more sustainable future for our borough,” said Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton.
“Staten Island is rapidly evolving into a central hub for New York City’s Offshore Wind Energy industry, and with that comes the opportunity to strengthen our local economy and commitment to environmental sustainability. I am pleased that dozens of free events will be available for Staten Island students, families and businesses to learn more about this blossoming industry and explore workforce development opportunities right here in our own backyard. I hope Staten Islanders will take advantage of these opportunities to be a part of the future of our borough,” said Assemblymember Sam Pirozzolo.
“Staten Island has an opportunity to be at the forefront of an emerging industry and to create a local workforce around renewable energy. With the assistance of state funding to the College of Staten Island, our students can earn their degree while gaining the skills needed to continue their professional careers in OSW without leaving Staten Island. I encourage Staten Islanders to participate in these free events to learn first-hand about the offshore wind industry,” said Staten Island Borough President Vito J. Fossella.
“Educating community groups, businesses and the general public about the many advantages and opportunities which will be coinciding with this new endeavor is the next step in bringing this generational change to our area. I encourage everyone interested in learning more about this technology to attend one more of these events,” said Councilmember Joseph Borelli.
“It is encouraging to see NYCEDC work with our borough in a way that gets Staten Islanders involved in offshore wind development. I encourage those of my constituents who may be looking to begin or change careers, or are simply curious, to attend the many events NYC EDC is offering. The winds of change bring with them energy and opportunity,” said Councilmember David Carr.
“I’m thrilled about the Summer of Offshore Wind initiative coming to Staten Island. This initiative by the New York City Economic Development Corporation aims to provide workforce development and educate our community about the benefits of offshore wind power. Join us in embracing the power of the wind this summer, as it brings opportunities for a cleaner environment, a thriving local economy, and countless jobs. Let’s work together to harness the wind’s potential for a greener and brighter future,” said Councilmember Kamillah Hanks.
“New York’s ambitious path to 9,000 megawatts is catalyzing the nation’s offshore wind supply chain with thousands of short- and long-term skilled jobs in construction, manufacturing, and operation,” said NYSERDA President and CEO Doreen M. Harris. “NYSERDA is thrilled to partner with the NYCEDC to expand the education and engagement opportunities within communities like Staten Island which will benefit from transformational economic opportunities as part of this growing industry.”
“At CUNY, thanks to a generous workforce investment from elected officials, we are helping our students get the training and tools they’ll need to become the next generation of climate-smart professionals,” said CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez. “We are delighted that the Summer of Offshore Wind series will help raise public awareness about this growing critical industry, which will help our beloved city get closer to its ambitious climate milestones while creating in-demand jobs and benefiting many thousands of New Yorkers and their families.”
“We’re grateful to continue our partnerships with EDC and community members in informing the Staten Island community of the opportunities for our students and all Staten Islanders. The investments we are making will allow us to train the critical workers needed by the offshore wind industry and help Staten Island become a major hub for the development of renewable energy,” said Interim Vice President for Economic Development and Community Partnerships College of Staten Island Robert Wallace.
“The Green Economy is here and New York is leading the way. Having the launch of NYC EDC’s Summer Offshore Wind series on Staten Island is significant to our Borough as we enter this transformative era. As Staten Island becomes an important part of Offshore wind growth in New York ,educating our residents on the many job opportunities is vital,” said Staten Island Economic Development Corporation President/CEO Mike Cusick
“The offshore wind industry will bring well-paying jobs to our borough and provide exciting new opportunities for Staten Island businesses to become part of the offshore wind supply chain,” said President and CEO of the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce Linda Baran. “As part of NYCEDC’s free Summer of Offshore Wind on Staten Island event series, the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce will offer a session exclusively for small businesses to help them prepare and apply for potential contracts and educate them about the procurement process. Together, the Chamber and NYCEDC will ensure that Staten Island’s small business community is prepared to leverage existing and future opportunities so they can prosper from the burgeoning OSW industry.”
The New York Public Library is proud to partner with NYCEDC to educate and inform the Staten Island community about offshore wind power and the opportunities it will present to Staten Islanders. Through the free programming offered at our branches, patrons of all ages will learn about the sustainable resource of wind power” said Associate Director of the Staten Island Neighborhood Network of the New York Public Library Marie Coughlin.
New York City is emerging as a national hub for the OSW industry by transforming existing infrastructure to create manufacturing facilities, investing in education pipelines, and creating job programs that identify and train talent from historically underrepresented areas to ensure all New Yorkers can benefit from green opportunities.
Staten Island is poised to play an important role in the rapidly growing OSW industry due to the borough’s network of maritime industrial businesses, OSW sized industrial waterfront sites, existing city, federal and private marine infrastructure, and extensive maritime history. Progress has already begun in Staten Island, which includes:
- The Island’s large-scale ports like the Arthur Kill Terminal, the Staten Island Marine Terminal, and the Rossville Municipal Site are all being proposed for manufacturing, staging, and operational and maintenance (O&M) uses.
- Last December, NYCEDC awarded a conditional developer designation to NorthPoint Development with the goal to transform the Rossville Municipal Site, a 33-acre city owned waterfront industrial property in Staten Island into a state-of-the-art OSW port facility.
- The College of Staten Island will be the receipt of $566,000 of state funding to help train the next generation of professionals for offshore wind careers.
Additionally, Mayor Adams also pledged $10 million to the City University of New York (CUNY) for capital costs associated with workforce development programs across associated campuses. Last September, CUNY and NYCEDC announced six CUNY colleges as initial recipients of $3.98 million in City funding to help train the next generation of professionals for climate-smart careers.
Offshore wind energy is poised to become a major source of affordable, renewable power for New York. The State is well on the way to developing 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind energy by 2035, enough to power up to 6 million homes, as mandated by the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. Currently, New York now has five offshore wind projects in active development — the largest offshore wind pipeline in the nation — totaling more than 4,300 megawatts and representing nearly 50 percent of the capacity needed to meet the state’s goal. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is the State Authority charged with advancing the development of offshore wind through the issuance of competitive solicitations for Offshore Wind Renewable Energy Certificates (ORECs). In January 2023, NYSERDA received a robust response to New York’s third offshore wind solicitation, with more than 100 total proposals for eight new projects from six offshore wind energy developers – representing a record-setting level of competition among East Coast. NYSERDA currently expects to announce awards in the summer of 2023.
The city expects the OSW industry will help remove more than 34 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the environment — the equivalent of removing nearly 500,000 cars from roadways for 15 years — while creating 13,000 jobs related to OSW infrastructure across the five boroughs through New York City sites and infrastructure supporting the construction of 12 GW of OSW energy.
About NYCEDC
New York City Economic Development Corporation is a mission-driven, nonprofit organization that works for a vibrant, inclusive, and globally competitive economy for all New Yorkers. We take a comprehensive approach, through four main strategies: strengthen confidence in NYC as a great place to do business; grow innovative sectors with a focus on equity, build neighborhoods as places to live, learn, work, and play; and deliver sustainable infrastructure for communities and the city’s future economy. To learn more about what we do, visit us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
