The New York State Assembly approved the Planned Offshore Wind Transmission Act, which allows for the start of construction on the Empire Wind Two project. The wind farm will be built 14 miles off of Jones Beach State Park, and will be supported by an operation base in Brooklyn.
Environmental groups were concerned New York’s renewable energy goals could be in jeopardy if the bill failed to pass this year.
The bill had already passed in the state Senate a couple of weeks prior. The Assembly had called itself into a two-day session that ended Wednesday.
The passage of the bill keeps offshore wind projects in the state, which are expected to power over 2 million New York homes, on schedule.
Adrienne Esposito of Citizens Campaign for the Environment said the timely completion of the projects is pivotal for the state to achieve its goal of 70% renewable energy by 2030.
“In the climate change battle, every year matters," Esposito said. "Either we’re going to achieve the state’s goals, or we’re going to fail. We hope to achieve them.”
Esposito said in addition to the climate benefits, the projects would create thousands of jobs and keep energy dollars at home.
“If the Assembly is committed to fighting climate change, that means we must do offshore wind to achieve our climate goals, and our carbon dioxide reduction goals."
Opponents in the Assembly were concerned about the impact laying transmission cable would have on local residents.
