LI LABOR APPLAUDS EAST HAMPTON APPROVAL OF OFFSHORE WIND ROUTE
LI LABOR APPLAUDS EAST HAMPTON APPROVAL OF OFFSHORE WIND ROUTE
THE LONG ISLAND FEDERATION OF LABOR, NASSAU/SUFFOLK BUILDING TRADES AND CLIMATE JOBS NY SUPPORT EAST HAMPTON’S DECISION TO APPROVE THE BEACH LANE CABLE ROUTE FOR SOUTH FORK WIND AND PROPEL OFFSHORE WIND DEVELOPMENT ON LONG ISLAND
East Hampton’s approval of the Host Community Agreement and easement for the Beach Lane route to site the offshore wind transmission cable is a crucial step forward in New York’s progress to harness 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind energy. Supervisor Van Scoyoc, the Town Board, Ørsted/Eversource, NYS agencies and other parties thoroughly vetted cable route options via environmental studies, surveys, and community engagement to put Long Island on a path towards utilizing offshore wind power. We are now one step closer in leading the green energy economy and putting thousands of New Yorkers to work with good union jobs.
For more information on the resolutions please visit: http://easthamptontown.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_Meeting.aspx?ID=2275
The Host Community Agreement (HCA) provides $28.9 million over the lifetime of the project and will benefit East Hampton residents. The HCA includes direct payments to the Town and Trustees as well as town property taxes on the onshore infrastructure that will provide an additional $4 million over the lifetime of the project. The ongoing negotiations of the Joint Proposal (JP) are the result of years of engagement between the Town, developer, local residents, businesses, mariners and NYS agencies. To highlight a few of the JP provisions, there is a commitment to maintain access to Wainscott Beach during construction for pedestrians, emergency vehicles, etc; a commitment to limit construction activities to the off-season months; a comprehensive fisheries compensation plan; and town and community notice and construction monitoring requirements.
The Beach Lane route for the South Fork export cable mitigates community and environmental impacts as demonstrated in numerous geotechnical field surveys, samplings, and studies both on land and in the water. This route and related infrastructure upgrades will increase the resilience of Long Island’s transmission infrastructure and inject clean, renewable energy into the grid. This is the clear option to responsibly develop offshore wind energy.
Roger Clayman, Executive Director of the Long Island Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO said, “The resolutions passed today by the Town of East Hampton and Orsted is the result of productive negotiations and relentless engagement by members of the community who support a green energy future for the South Fork. It enables Long Island’s first offshore wind project to move forward along with the many jobs and economic opportunities it creates.”
Matthew Aracich, President of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Nassau and Suffolk Counties stated; “Finding the best route to navigate past obstacles in your way only works when you engage in collaboration and transparency. Supervisor Van Scoyoc and the Town Board members should be commended for taking effective action on addressing climate change. With board approval of the transmission cable route, now secure in East Hampton, offshore wind is poised to fulfill the promise of providing Long Island with a steady supply of reliable, carbon free power. Bold initiatives like these create meaningful jobs, combat low diversity levels and advance the scope of reducing emissions from Manhattan to Montauk.”
Mariah Dignan, Long Island Organizer for Climate Jobs NY, said, “The resolutions passed today are momentum-drivers for responsible offshore wind development. Supervisor Van Scoyoc and the Town Board demonstrated their leadership by taking action on the climate crisis and set the stage for a robust offshore wind industry in New York that will create thousands of good union jobs and invest tens of millions into our community.”
ABOUT CLIMATE JOBS NY
Climate Jobs NY (CJNY) is a growing coalition of labor unions—representing more than 2.6 million working New Yorkers—united to combat climate change and reverse inequality. CJNY’s mission is to advocate for a clean energy economy at the scale climate science demands, create good union jobs, and support more equitable communities and a more resilient New York. CJNY’s members include the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York, the New York City Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO, the New York State AFL-CIO, the Building and Construction Trades Council of Nassau and Suffolk Counties, the Long Island Federation of Labor, Utility Workers Union of America Local 1-2, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 3, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Third District, the United Association Plumbers and Pipefitters in New York State, 32BJ SEIU, the New York State Nurses Association, Laborers International Union Local 79, International Union of Operating Engineers Local 30, AFSCME District Council 37, the Transport Workers Union of America, and Transport Workers Union Local 100.