Kathy Hochul, Governor of New York, announced a $500 million investment in offshore wind during her State of the State address. This is big news for the New York maritime industry.
The State's offshore wind plan proposes 4.3 gigawatts (GW) of renewable offshore wind energy. That's enough to power 3 million New York homes. It is estimated that the wind farms will support over 6,500 direct jobs and $12.1 billion of economic impact statewide. Governor Hochul said:
“With this investment, New York will lead the nation on offshore wind production, creating green jobs for New Yorkers, and powering our clean energy future... I am proud to make New York a leader in offshore wind and renewable energy. We must harness the potential of offshore wind to fuel our economy forward and meet our ambitious climate goals.”
New York is scheduled to start construction on the state’s first offshore wind project in 2022. It will be called the South Fork Wind Farm.
The 130-megawatt South Fork Wind will be positioned roughly 19 miles southeast of Block Island and 35 miles east of Montauk Point, New York. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) completed its environmental review of the South Fork Wind project in August, 2021, leading to federal approval in November.
The expansion of offshore wind farms in New York means that more and more maritime workers will be exposed to the perils of the seas. When those maritime workers are hurt on the job due to the negligence of others, they may have claims under the Jones Act, unseaworthiness, LHWCA, or general maritime law. Wind farm injuries can be severe and often result in wrongful death.
If you or a loved one was injured on the job at or around an offshore wind farm, contact a maritime lawyer at Mariner Law, PLLC. The firm represents victims of offshore injuries in New York, Connecticut, and nationwide. Call today for a free consultation with a Jones Act : (646) 558-1776. An admiralty attorney may also be available to meet potential clients by appointment in Manhattan: 40 Wall Street 27th Floor New York, NY 10005.
Source: gCaptain