New York is home to a wealth of clean, renewable energy just off our Atlantic shores. South Fork Wind, an offshore wind farm made up of twelve steadily-turning wind turbines stationed 30 miles off the coast of Montauk, is already harnessing strong ocean winds to produce enough clean energy to power 70,000 Long Island homes and businesses.
Operational since July 2024, South Fork Wind is the first utility-scale offshore wind project in the U.S. The facility, built with local, union labor, generated over 1,000 jobs with steady hours and family-sustaining salaries.
Now in its third year of commercial operation, South Fork has proven itself a reliable, year-round power generator. During 2025, South Fork’s wind turbines produced electricity across 90 percent of all hours, even with varying wind speeds. Its capacity factor is comparable to, and in some cases better, than that of gas and other fossil fuel plants.
South Fork Wind has performed well during extreme weather events. For example, during this summer’s 4th of July heat wave, South Fork provided New Yorkers with reliable, locally-generated energy during windows of peak energy demand.
Last winter, New York was gripped by historic cold temperatures for weeks. To avoid blackouts, every available New York energy source – even the most expensive, polluting gas and fossil fuel plants – was powered on. Offshore wind delivered power even in the cold. However, since all other fossil fuel sources were also called upon to supply power, electricity prices skyrocketed. Higher gas prices during the cold snap were the primary driver of increased electricity bills on Long Island.
While gas prices can skyrocket unexpectedly, offshore wind is a fixed-cost power source, offering stability for New Yorkers monthly electric bills, even during extreme weather. At a cost of about $1.58 per month for the typical residential customer, South Fork is helping New Yorkers avoid gas price spikes on their bills.
For Long Islanders, offshore wind is an opportunity to generate power right where it's needed. South Fork Wind is helping keep the lights on and bills stable in one of the country’s most densely populated places. All the while, the site’s twelve turbines – sitting 30 miles offshore – are nearly impossible to spot from land.
With a miles-long, shallow sea floor and ideal wind conditions, New York is perfectly positioned for offshore wind development. Offshore wind is vital for protecting New Yorkers from unaffordable, unpredictable bills when the temps rise to unbearable levels of heat or cold. Our communities can no longer afford to rely on gas. We need to build South Fork Wind’s success and shift to clean, reliable, fixed-cost energy sources, like offshore wind, keep our lights on, air clean, and bills predictable.