From Heat Waves to Cold Snaps, Offshore Wind Delivers for New York

Extreme weather is testing New York’s energy system like never before. From record-breaking summer heat waves to winter cold snaps, keeping the lights on and homes warm or cool, is a challenge that directly affects public health, affordability, and climate resilience.

According to a guest essay by Allyson Samuell, senior campaign organizer at the Sierra Club in New York, New York’s decades-old electricity infrastructure is struggling to meet the state’s energy needs, and fossil fuel generation simply cannot keep up during extreme weather events. 

Offshore wind is already proving it can meet this challenge. During June’s heat wave, South Fork Wind delivered over 87% of its theoretical capacity during the critical window of 6–9 PM, providing reliable power when New Yorkers needed it most and helping prevent blackouts. Its 12 turbines, located 35 miles off Montauk, now power 70,000 homes and businesses across Long Island while employing over 1,000 union workers with family-sustaining wages.

The data from South Fork’s first year proves that offshore wind is not only reliable but also affordable. At roughly $1.58 per month for a typical residential customer, South Fork helps protect New Yorkers from fuel price spikes, unlike costly gas infrastructure projects that offer neither price stability nor clean energy benefits. If all contracted offshore wind projects had been online in 2022, New Yorkers could have saved an estimated $77 million in electricity costs during just one high-cost winter month.

As winter approaches, the lesson is clear: we need more offshore wind, paired with battery storage and proper transmission infrastructure, to ensure reliable, clean, and affordable energy all year round. Offshore wind is no longer a future promise, it’s a proven resource, and New York must prioritize its rapid expansion.

Read the full essay here