Vineyard Offshore Offers Robust, Community-focused Offshore Wind Project to Boost New York Climate Progress

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1,350 megawatt Excelsior Wind will create thousands of jobs and provide clean, reliable energy for 700,000 New York homes

(Boston, MA) — Vineyard Offshore, America’s leading offshore wind development company, announced today a new proposal submitted to the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to develop Excelsior Wind. 

The 1,350 megawatt (MW) offshore wind project, located 24 miles from the nearest shoreline, will deliver enough electricity to power more than 700,000 New York homes. Proposed by Vineyard Offshore – a team with industry-leading experience working collaboratively with local partners – Excelsior Wind is submitted with more than 100 letters of support from local leaders and a host of stakeholders, including labor unions, fishermen, local businesses, workforce development agencies, and environmental organizations. 

“Vineyard Offshore knows how to deliver clean, reliable energy because we listen, learn, and develop our projects with the input of community partners,” said Vineyard Offshore CEO Alicia Barton. “As a result, Excelsior Wind will generate billions in economic benefits over the long term, create family-sustaining jobs, support local businesses, and help New York get on track to achieving its nation-leading climate goals. With NYSERDA’s approval, we will be ready to hit the ground running.”

Excelsior Wind will improve air quality and public health outcomes, reduce negative environmental impacts, and avoid nearly 1.2 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions annually from the New York ISO grid each year — equal to taking 268,000 cars off the road.

In addition to the environmental and public health benefits, this project will: 

  • Generate more than 5,000 gigawatt-hours of clean, reliable electricity annually once it reaches commercial operation in 2031
  • Maximize use of federal tax credits and access the Propel NY Energy offshore wind transmission project to reduce costs; and
  • Minimize impact on Long Island communities during construction.

Vineyard Offshore also commits $50 million to initiatives aimed at promoting a diverse, inclusive, and environmentally responsible offshore wind sector in New York. This package includes $39 million for workforce development, supply chain, and Minority-Women Business Enterprise/Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Businesses (MWBE/SDVOB) upskilling. An additional $11 million will be devoted to environmental, fisheries, and habitat initiatives.

Excelsior Wind was previously selected in NYSERDA’s third offshore wind solicitation, announced in October 2023, although NYSERDA ultimately did not issue contracts for those awards. 

The new proposal from Vineyard Offshore benefits from an additional year of active community engagement and technical development on Excelsior Wind. The result is a proposed project distinguished by three key features: 

  • Statewide Benefits for New York:Excelsior Wind will build upon the Empire State’s national leadership position in offshore wind by committing to major investments in New York City ports, upstate supply chain partnerships, and Long Island onshore infrastructure. 
  • Community-First Development: Based on community outreach and local feedback, Excelsior Wind has selected a preferred landfall site at Jones Beach State Park and preferred onshore cable route that together minimize construction impacts on residential neighborhoods while maximizing directly funded initiatives for the surrounding communities, delivered with local partners.
  • Competitive and Cost-Effective: The project will utilize fast-to-install transmission technology, maximize federal tax incentives, and leverage existing grid improvements on Long Island to lower costs and provide best value for ratepayers.

Since January 2023, Vineyard Offshore’s New York outreach team has reached over 20,000 stakeholders in more than 200 individual and small-group meetings and over 100 community events and presentations. Vineyard Offshore has also sponsored over 60 community events – everything from back-to-school giveaways to beach cleanups — and has identified 100+ community organizations, institutions, local businesses, nonprofit, and community-based organizations that have become collaborative partners. Time and again, Vineyard Offshore has received feedback expressing an appreciation for consistent, transparent, and frequent engagement, which has resulted in input that has significantly helped to shape Excelsior Wind.

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About Vineyard Offshore

Vineyard Offshore, an affiliate of CIP, is leading the development of two lease areas in the Northeast, OCS-A 522, known as Vineyard Northeast, located off the coast of Massachusetts and OCS-A 544, known as Vineyard Mid-Atlantic and home to the Excelsior Wind Project, located in the New York Bight. Additionally, the company is working to develop a project off the coast of Humboldt County in Northern California, in lease area OCS-P 0562. Combined with its joint venture development of the first-in-the-nation offshore wind project, Vineyard Wind 1, Vineyard Offshore has the potential to develop more than 6 gigawatts of clean, renewable, and affordable energy on the East and West Coasts of the United States.  To learn more, visit: www.vineyardoffshore.com.

Contact: Press@vineyardoffshore.com