Leading Light Wind Submits Offshore Wind Project Bid in New York, Unveils American-Led Vision to Chart the Clean Energy Future

Leading Light Wind, the only American-led offshore wind development in the New York Bight, submitted its bid for an offshore wind power contract to the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). New York's third competitive offshore wind solicitation includes a nation-leading $500 million investment in offshore wind ports, manufacturing, and supply chain infrastructure. Leading Light Wind proposes delivering up to 2,100 megawatts (MW) of clean energy to the state—advancing public health, climate action, environmental justice, and economic and workforce development across New York.

Leading Light Wind is a bold vision for New York that will deliver enough clean, reliable energy to power the equivalent of up to 800,000 New York homes every year and offset nearly 2 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions in its first year of operation. The proposed project will support tens of thousands of family-sustaining jobs over its operational life and represents up to $13.3 billion in economic benefits for New York, including critical offshore wind infrastructure and supply chain investments. These benefits and investments will be an essential part of New York State reaching its nation-leading climate and energy goals outlined in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. Leading Light Wind is a partnership between lead developer Invenergy and New York-based co-developer energyRe.

"Leading Light Wind is charting a course for New York's clean energy future, one that is led by American innovation," said Michael Polsky, Founder and CEO at Invenergy. "As the only American-led offshore wind project in the New York Bight, Leading Light Wind has an unmatched commitment to advancing a domestic offshore wind industry that secures American competitiveness in the global market, delivers a just energy transition, and builds new opportunities for New Yorkers."

"Leading Light Wind is ready to bring our decades of expertise and experience to the fight for a resilient future," said Miguel Prado, CEO of energyRe. "Offshore wind is critical to reaching New York's bold climate and clean energy goals and can accelerate a family-sustaining green economy across the state. Leading Light Wind is uniquely positioned to realize New York's domestic leadership in offshore wind—and deliver on the promise of cleaner air and a healthier future for our communities."

"We are pleased to offer a unique and differentiated supply chain investment plan that will deliver economic benefits from Western New York to the Capital Region to New York City," said Joshua Weinstein, Vice President and Head of Offshore Development for Invenergy. "We're creating next-generation jobs through an innovation and operations base at the historic Brooklyn Navy Yard and marshaling port development at the Arthur Kill Terminal on Staten Island. In addition, we're offering an energy storage solution to provide grid resilience and align our project with New York'senergy storage goals."

Notably, Leading Light Wind signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with North America's Building Trades Unions (NABTU) to ensure the project is built by New York union construction workers. The MOU covers all aspects of construction – from supply chain and port construction to offshore construction. The MOU and the team's experience building renewable power projects ensures that Leading Light Wind is best positioned to create an American-led offshore wind union workforce. 

In addition to the supply chain investments, Leading Light Wind is focused on an equitable offshore wind industry in New York and will establish a community benefits program with up to $300 million in funding for driving stakeholder-directed community empowerment, building of an inclusive workforce, accelerating the offshore wind supply chain, and pioneering innovative and collaborative environmental research. Initial partnerships with community-based organizations and institutions include the Waterfront Alliance, the Albert C. Wiltshire Employment Center at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, CUNY Offshore Wind Advisory Network, CUNY College of Staten Island, Gotham Whale, the Children's Environmental Literacy Foundation, and the New York City Economic Development Corporation (the Waterfront Pathways Program and newly proposed Lift All Boats fund to support small businesses).

Leading Light Wind also recognizes that meaningful stakeholder engagement is central to every area of NYSERDA's offshore wind program. As a committed industry partner, Leading Light Wind will build upon NYSERDA's efforts and center multifaceted stakeholder engagement throughout every stage of the project. Leading Light Wind is engaging with critical marine and fisheries stakeholders to ensure a burgeoning offshore wind industry can thrive alongside existing marine economies and resources.

Leading Light Wind builds upon Invenergy and energyRe's partnership in New York, including the development of Clean Path New York – a landmark clean energy infrastructure project combining a new 175-mile state-of-the-art 1,300 MW HVDC underground transmission line with more than 3,800 MW of new wind and solar power in New York.

Leading Light Wind | leadinglightwind.com

Invenergy | https://invenergy.com/

energyRe | www.energyre.com