Proposed offshore wind project would bring jobs to Brooklyn, clean energy to New York

The Leading Light Wind Project could turn the century-old dock into a modern operation and maintenance facility, connecting Brooklyn to a wind farm in the Atlantic Ocean.

News 12 Staff

Apr 2, 2023, 2:50 AM

Updated 613 days ago

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A proposed offshore wind project could bring thousands of jobs to the Brooklyn Navy Yard.
The project would also help New York become a leader in offshore wind infrastructure.
"This dry dock was damaged in Sandy over 10 years ago and really nothing has happened since then," says Wes Jacobs, project director of Leading Light Wind Project about the yard's Dry Dock 4.
The Leading Light Wind Project could turn the century-old dock into a modern operation and maintenance facility, connecting Brooklyn to a wind farm in the Atlantic Ocean.
"This is an opportunity to leverage a part of New York City's historic waterfront for the next generation of energy, So this entire dock will be revitalized to support the clean energy transition," Jacob says.
Leading Light Wind is one of six offshore wind developers who hope to secure a government contract as part of a $500 million investment from the state for offshore wind infrastructure.
"We are truly unique in this RFP in that we are the only American-led project," Jacobs adds.
Once the dock is fully rebuilt, ships will come into the yard from the Atlantic Ocean carrying materials, equipment and workers to and from offshore wind farms, which would be about 80 miles south of Long Island.
"This is a project that would power the equivalent of 800,000 New York homes," Jacobs says.
A mix of private and public investments would fund the multi-billion-dollar proposal.
Leading Light Wind hopes the proposal will make the dry dock a hub for offshore wind innovation, partnering with Brooklyn Navy Yard to bring thousands of job opportunities and training to Brooklyn.
"Everything from construction jobs, to manufacturing jobs, to long-term manufacturing and maintenance jobs," Jacobs says.
The state's Energy Research and Development Authority is set to announce the winning project this spring.
If the Leading Light Wind Project comes out on top, they plan to start operations in 2030.