Community Offshore Wind, a joint venture between RWE and National Grid Ventures (NGV), has submitted a proposal to provide clean offshore wind energy to the state of New York. 

According to a statement, if selected, this project will provide up to 2.8 GW of clean energy generation capacity for New York communities, enough to produce electricity to supply one million households in the city. Additionally, it will create nearly 700 direct jobs and drive approximately $3 billion in economic activity. 

This project would support New York's goal of achieving 70% renewable electricity statewide by 2030. Community Offshore Wind’s proposal, which has already received more than 40 letters of support from New York legislators, labor leaders, and community organizations. 

"This large-scale offshore wind proposal offers an exceptional opportunity for New York to dramatically expand its clean energy capacity while simultaneously creating new economic opportunities for families and workers across the state”, said Doug Perkins, President and Project Director of Community Offshore Wind. “Offshore wind is necessary to meet rising energy demand and enable New York’s economic growth. Our project will help meet that demand with  clean power while investing in new union job creation and the local supply chain. We’re committed to working with NYSERDA to achieve Governor Hochul’s nation-leading clean energy goals and maintain New York’s leadership in offshore wind.” 

How will the project be built? 

The proposed project would be built in two phases in the developer's federal offshore wind leasing area in New York Bay. 

The company proposed two interconnection points. In Brooklyn, one phase of the project will interconnect at the ConEd Clean Energy Hub in the Vinegar Hill neighborhood. This phase could connect to the coordinated transmission solution for which the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) is currently evaluating proposals. 

On Long Island, another phase would interconnect at the EF Barrett Power Plant in Island Park, enabling a transition to clean energy while also ensuring long-term tax revenue for Island Park and surrounding communities. The project will connect to transmission infrastructure built as part of the Propel NY Energy project by New York Transco, driving job growth and reducing local emissions. 

Community Impact 

The company will use a unionized workforce for the construction of the project and will hire workers from disadvantaged communities to fill at least 35 percent of its direct jobs. Community Offshore Wind will invest $64 million in new job training programs, pre-apprenticeships, and apprenticeships to ensure that more New Yorkers can access well-paying unionized careers that support their families. 

The project will invest up to $250 million to support the development of key manufacturing facilities in New York, accelerating the growth of the local offshore wind supply chain and securing New York's place as a leader in this growing industry. 

To ensure that residents across the state can benefit from these economic opportunities, Community Offshore Wind will invest an additional $121 million to support local communities. This includes funding for programs and services that address barriers that often prevent workers, especially working parents, from accessing job opportunities, including affordable childcare services for the state’s offshore wind workforce. 

These community investments would add to Community Offshore Wind's commitment to New York to date, including donating over 3.000 STEM-focused books to families in Brooklyn, cleaning up over 1.000 pounds of trash from the shores of Long Island and Brooklyn, and providing nearly 40.000 fresh seafood meals to food banks statewide. 

The new proposal also includes over $67 million in funding for conservation programs and support for fishing. These investments will build on Community Offshore Wind's innovative Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which will transform environmental monitoring for offshore wind energy projects and enhance transparency between researchers and developers.