(Boston, MA) — Vineyard Offshore, a nation-leading offshore wind development company, today announced details of the jobs and economic benefits its proposed Excelsior Wind project, now pending with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), would deliver across New York.  

Excelsior Wind, a 1.3 gigawatt (GW) offshore wind development, located 24 miles from the nearest shoreline, would generate an estimated $2.6 billion in direct economic benefits for New York over the project’s lifetime. At least 35%, and a goal of 40%, of in-state spending would be concentrated in disadvantaged communities, including those in the project’s onshore communities on Long Island, for up to $578 million through the third year of operations. Excelsior Wind is estimated to generate over $6 billion in benefits for New York when accounting for all direct, indirect, and induced economic activity from the project.  

Excelsior Wind would create over 2,000 unique jobs and up to 5,200 job-years of employment. The project will be constructed with union labor, project labor agreements (PLAs) to be negotiated with the New York State Building and Construction Trades Council, and operated under a labor peace agreement with Climate Jobs New York. Building on the experience of developing Vineyard Wind 1 under the nation’s first PLA for offshore wind, Vineyard Offshore will deliver opportunities for union labor while building an equitable and inclusive offshore wind workforce for Excelsior Wind.  

“With investments across the state, Excelsior Wind will generate billions in economic benefits over the long term, create family-sustaining jobs, support local businesses, and help New York achieve its nation-leading climate goals,” said Vineyard Offshore CEO Alicia Barton. “Vineyard Offshore is proud to offer this project, and if awarded we look forward to working with state and federal officials, Tribal Nations, and community stakeholders to translate these promises into reality.”

For Excelsior Wind, 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.

Since January 2023, Vineyard Offshore’s New York outreach team has reached over 20,000 stakeholders in more than 200 meetings and over 100 community presentations. Vineyard Offshore has also sponsored over 60 community events—from back-to-school giveaways to beach cleanups—and has identified 100+ community organizations, institutions, local businesses, and nonprofits that have become collaborative partners. As a result, Vineyard Offshore submitted its proposal for Excelsior Wind with over 100 letters of support.  

The current proposal benefits from an additional year of active community engagement and technical development on Excelsior Wind, and is 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 extensive 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 the best value for ratepayers.

Excelsior Wind also proposes to support economic activity outside of its primary location in Nassau County, including:  

• Port development: Excelsior Wind plans to utilize New York ports for the staging, assembly, and marshalling of wind turbine components as well as invest in a state-of-the-art operations and maintenance facility that will service the project for over 30 years.

• Component production: The Excelsior Wind proposal also includes potential ways to utilize the burgeoning New York-based supply chain for the fabrication and assembly of components for additional economic benefits and jobs.  

Excelsior Wind was previously selected in NYSERDA’s third offshore wind solicitation in October 2023, though no contracts were issued.  

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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.

Media contact: press@vineyardoffshore.com