Massive turbine power being built off NY coast despite Trump ban on offshore wind projects
A massive wind power project off the coast of New York blew past President Trump’s executive order to block or pause all new wind energy leasing in federal waterways — which opponents claim will destroy aquatic life and the commercial fishing industry.Norway-based Equinor, which already had all the necessary lease and permit approvals from the feds before Trump’s January 20 executive order went into effect, confirmed that it has started construction at the site — laying rock as the foundation for the giant 54 wind turbines — 15 miles off the coast of Long Beach.Equinor will deliver the power by connecting to Con Edison’s electric grid via a cable link from the ocean floor to the substation at the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal in Sunset Park.The “Empire Wind 1″ project — which will power 500,000 homes — has the strong backing from both Mayor Eric Adams and Gov.Kathy Hochul, in part to help meet the goals of the ambitious state climate change law mandating 100% zero-emission electricity by 2040 and the phasing out of fossil fuels by 2050.The president has made it clear he’s not a fan of wind power, saying, “We’re not going to do the wind thing.
Big, ugly windmills, they ruin your neighborhood.”“They destroy everything, they’re horrible, the most expensive energy there is,” Trump said.“They ruin the environment, they kill the birds, they kill the whales.”The fishing industry also claims offshore wind farms are dangerous hot air.“The whole fishing industry economy could be lost,” said Bonnie Brady, executive director of the Long Island Commercial Fishing Association.“A comprehensive review from the Trump administration is needed to make fishing great again.” Commercial fisheries scoop up and reel in scallops, squid and fluke in the area where the wind turbines are being erected.“We can’t coexist with offshore wind power.
It would be like steaming into a death trap,” Brady said.Offshore wind farms can interfere with ...