Congressman Dan Goldman Touts Brooklyn as the Future Capital of the American Offshore Wind Industry

Congressman Dan Goldman Leads Tour of South Brooklyn Marine Terminal, the Future Staging Location of Empire Wind 1 Wind Farm

Congressman Goldman Highlights Critical Role Inflation Reduction Act Tax Credits Played in Catalyzing Historic Growth of Offshore Wind Industry, Making the Brooklyn Waterfront the Future Capital of American Offshore Wind Production

Empire Wind 1 Will Be the First Offshore Wind Farm to Connect Directly to New York City Power Grid

Empire Wind 1 to Have Over Six Times the Generative Capacity of South Fork Wind Farm

South Brooklyn Marine Terminal, Still in Pre-Construction Phase, Set to Be the Largest Port Dedicated to Offshore Wind Staging and Operations & Maintenance in the United States

Photos of the Walking Tour and Footage and Rendering of Future South Brooklyn Marine Terminal Available Here

Brooklyn, NY – Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) today led a walking tour of the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal to tout the role that Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) tax credits played in making Brooklyn the future offshore wind capital of America. The Congressman was joined by Teddy Muhlfelder the Vice President of Equinor Renewables America and President of Empire Wind, Max Taffet the Senior Vice President of Offshore Wind and PortNYC Planning at the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), and Georges Sassine the Vice President for Large-Scale Renewables at the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).

The South Brooklyn Marine Terminal, still in its pre-construction phase, will connect the Empire Wind 1 wind farm’s clean energy capacity to the New York City grid. Empire Wind 1 will be the first offshore wind project to plug directly into the New York City power gird and will ultimately connect its renewable energy at the neighboring Gowanus substation. The South Brooklyn Marine Terminal will also be the largest port dedicated to offshore wind staging and Operations and Maintenance in the United States.

With a generative capacity of over 800 megawatts, nearly 700 megawatts more than South Fork wind farm, Empire Wind 1 will be critical in helping New York reach its goal of providing one-third of the country’s offshore wind power by 2035. This historic project was made possible by investments and tax credits from the Inflation Reduction Act passed by Congressional Democrats and championed by President Biden in 2022.

“President Biden’s historic investment in renewable energy is now seeing tangible results in Brooklyn, where an offshore wind project that will serve 500,000 homes and businesses is nearly ready to begin breaking ground,” Congressman Dan Goldman said. “The green economy, including wind, is the needed solution to address climate change and energy independence, and will create numerous jobs for our communities. I am excited to continue working with Equinor, NYCEDC, and NYSERDA to ensure that Brooklyn becomes the offshore wind capital of America, leading the way in revolutionizing our nation’s green infrastructure.”

Teddy Muhlfelder, Vice President of Equinor Renewables Americas and President of Empire Wind said, “The Inflation Reduction Act is playing a pivotal role in making renewable energy projects like Empire Wind a reality. Because of the leadership of Congressman Goldman, Senator Schumer and the Biden administration and their work in implementing the IRA, construction at the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal is beginning and we are set to break ground later this spring. As a result, Empire Wind will not only power over 500,000 homes, but will also create jobs, drive local investments and build up the supply chain, putting New York City at the heart of the offshore wind industry for decades to come.”

Georges Sassine, NYSERDA Vice President of Large-Scale Renewables said, “The South Brooklyn Marine Terminal represents the first step in establishing a New York-centered domestic supply chain to support the growing offshore wind industry and portfolio of projects that are advancing in New York. State and federal investments in port infrastructure are also bringing well-paying, long-term careers in the offshore wind industry and building a workforce that is essential to the clean energy transition.”

Max Taffet, NYCEDC Senior Vice President of Offshore Wind and PortNYC Planning said, “New York continues to lead with equity and innovation while establishing itself as the nation’s leading hub for offshore wind – an industry that will play a crucial role in achieving our climate goals while sparking new economic activity, support local workforce development, and ensure New Yorkers of all backgrounds can benefit from these green-collar jobs. We thank Rep. Goldman and look forward to working with him and our partners in the public and private sectors on continuing to grow the offshore wind industry here in New York City and breaking ground in Sunset Park to transform the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal into one of the largest offshore wind facilities in the nation.”

Upon completion, the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal will be one of the largest offshore wind ports in America. Renewable energy tax credits included in the Inflation Reduction Act, passed in 2022 by President Biden and Congressional Democrats, were instrumental in unlocking Brooklyn’s potential as the future capital of the American offshore wind industry by helping make the Empire Wind 1 project a reality.

The Inflation Reduction Act includes two key tax credits which have spurred the investment into offshore wind energy generation. The energy investment tax credit (ITC), which provides a 30 percent tax credit for offshore wind projects that begin construction before January 1, 2026. The IRA also provides a new tax credit for the domestic production of wind components and related goods such as specialized offshore wind installation vessels.

Congressman Dan Goldman has fought to ensure New York City is at the forefront of addressing the climate crisis, specifically rising temperatures and extreme weather. He is committed to making sure that our most vulnerable communities are not left behind, and that all New Yorkers are reaping the benefits of cutting edge, clean technology.

In March of 2023, the Congressman called on Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Deb Haaland to deliver funding to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) in order to ensure the timely approval of offshore wind energy projects. This funding, included in the Inflation Reduction Act, would support offshore wind development and help the U.S. meet offshore wind energy production targets.

In April of 2023, Goldman cosponsored the ‘Green New Deal’ to advance a bold agenda to fight the existential threat of climate change. The Green New Deal would address climate injustice, economic inequality, greenhouse gas emissions, and create millions of good-paying union jobs. The Green New Deal builds off the success of the Inflation Reduction Act to address the twin crises of climate disaster and economic inequality.

Congressman Goldman is a member of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC).

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