First US utility-scale offshore wind power flows to grid from New York's South Fork
Orsted-Eversource's 132MW array spearheads state's troubled drive for 9GW of sector capacity by 2035
Orsted and local utility Eversource announced first power delivered from their 132MW South Fork Wind project off the coast of Long Island, New York, marking a milestone in US commercial-scale offshore wind development.
The project, located 35 miles (56.2km) east of Montauk Point, was fully approved in early 2022 following US flagship Vineyard Wind 1.
“New York's nation-leading efforts to generate reliable, renewable clean energy have reached a major milestone," governor Kathy Hochul said, speaking at an event to mark the milestone in East Hampton, Long Island, where the project makes landfall.
“South Fork Wind will power thousands of homes, create good-paying union jobs and demonstrate to all that offshore wind is a viable resource New York can harness for generations to come," she added.
David Hardy, CEO of Orsted’s Americas Region, said the project’s success “is essential for showing what is possible for offshore wind in the US.”
Liz Burdock, founder and CEO of trade group Oceantic Network, said the milestone is “a result of more than a decade of work to bring offshore wind online in the US.”
South Fork “now serves as a proof point for offshore wind’s viability and benefits,” she added.
New York and Massachusetts are early drivers of offshore wind in the US, but both have struggled to maintain momentum as high inflation and interest rates and ongoing supply chain turmoil have forced developers to seek offtake contract renegotiations for better rates or cancel projects outright.
That round is currently open.