Construction Begins on Nation’s Largest Offshore Wind Hub at South Brooklyn Marine Terminal

On Monday, June 10th, Mayor Eric Adams and Governor Kathy Hochul announced the start of construction for the nation’s largest dedicated offshore wind port at the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal (SBMT). This 73-acre site in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, will serve as a major hub for offshore wind operations, including the staging, maintenance, and deployment of wind turbines for the Empire Wind project.

The groundbreaking ceremony marks a significant step forward in New York’s clean energy transition, aiming to advance the state’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) goal of developing 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind by 2035. The project will deliver 810 megawatts of renewable energy, enough to power 500,000 homes, by late 2026.

Mayor Adams highlighted the project’s economic and environmental benefits, stating, “Today, we are powering up New York’s clean energy economy and creating more than 1,000 union jobs for working-class New Yorkers as we break ground on the largest dedicated offshore wind port in the nation at the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal. This offshore wind project will significantly reduce our carbon footprint and ensure our city meets our climate goals of 100-percent clean electricity by 2040 and carbon neutrality by 2050.”

Governor Hochul emphasized the project’s role in sustainable development, saying, “We are taking a large step forward in our commitment to build a sustainable future and foster economic growth. With the groundbreaking of South Brooklyn Marine Terminal, New York is fueling the redevelopment of the Brooklyn waterfront, bringing important investments to our communities, creating good-paying jobs, and building the model for the offshore wind industry that the rest of the nation can follow.”

The SBMT project is a public-private partnership involving the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), Equinor Wind US, and the Sustainable South Brooklyn Marine Terminal, L.P. It will include the construction of a substation to connect the offshore wind turbines’ electricity to the city’s grid at the Gowanus Substation in Brooklyn.

This initiative is part of Mayor Adams’ broader efforts to reimagine New York City’s waterfront through the “Harbor of the Future” and “Green Economy Action Plan.” The project will also create thousands of green-collar jobs, supporting the local economy and promoting environmental justice.

The SBMT will be a low-emissions facility with solar power and electric vehicle charging stations. It will provide onshore power and charging for the Empire Wind Service Operations Vessel, the first plug-in hybrid vessel for the U.S. offshore wind industry.

The construction of the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal is expected to be completed by the end of 2026, positioning New York City as a leader in the offshore wind industry and contributing to the state’s ambitious renewable energy goals.