Offshore Wind, Public Health, and Promises Kept on Long Island
Last week, Renewable Energy Long Island (reLI) joined advocates, labor leaders, and environmental partners in Melville to highlight a milestone moment for clean energy: the success of South Fork Wind and what it means for public health and our communities.
Hosted at the Haugland Group, the gathering brought together voices from across Long Island committed to advancing clean energy, protecting public health, and creating good-paying green jobs. The message was simple but powerful: offshore wind is delivering on its promises.
A Turning Point for Clean Energy on Long Island
South Fork Wind, the first commercial-scale offshore wind farm in the United States, is now fully operational and already making a measurable impact. Located 35 miles east of Montauk, the 12-turbine, 132-megawatt project provides reliable electricity to approximately 70,000 Long Island homes and businesses.
As Carrie Meek Gallagher, CEO of the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA), shared at the event, the project is not just symbolic—it’s working.
“What matters most is that it is now an operating asset, a true asset, serving Long Islanders,” she said. “Our public reporting shows that South Fork Wind has been generating consistently and contributing meaningfully to our system.”
During this past winter’s extreme cold, when energy demand surged and fossil fuel prices spiked, South Fork Wind proved especially valuable—helping stabilize the grid and deliver dependable power when it was needed most.
At the event, reLI’s Executive Director underscored the real-world stakes of relying on fossil fuels, especially during extreme weather. She pointed to moments this winter when power plants were forced to switch to No. 6 fuel oil because natural gas was unavailable and prices had surged to nearly three times their normal cost. No. 6 oil is among the dirtiest fuel sources, producing especially high levels of particulate matter and other harmful pollutants.
That shift has serious public health implications. Increased particulate pollution is linked to respiratory and cardiovascular illness, disproportionately impacting vulnerable communities.
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