Off the coast of Long Island, a massive new project called Empire Wind 1 is set to change the way New York gets its electricity. Imagine 54 giant wind turbines, each almost the height of the Chrysler Building, being installed in the ocean, about 15 to 30 miles southeast of Long Beach, Long Island. Once the project is complete, these towering turbines will punctuate the view from shore on clear days, where now the view is just open sea and the occasional fishing boat drifting across the horizon. The energy produced by these turbines will be clean and renewable, generating electricity to power more than 500,000 homes.
Empire Wind 1 is one piece in a much larger project to try to shift New York away from its reliance on fossil fuels such as coal, gas and oil and move toward more sustainable energy sources. But installing offshore wind turbines, in New York and around the country, has hit logistical snags and controversy. Some locals worry that turbines disrupt ocean views, while others voice fears that electromagnetic frequencies from underwater cables could pose health risks. In addition, the future of wind power in New York depends on the upcoming presidential election, because both candidates hold sharply different positions. While Vice President Kamala Harris, as part of the Biden administration, has helped advance wind projects with financial incentives and streamlined regulations, former president Donald Trump has criticized wind turbines, calling them “expensive” and “unreliable.”
