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U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko is warning that the Trump administration’s continued resistance to offshore wind could cost New York jobs and economic development opportunities, particularly in upstate steel manufacturing.
“We need to go forward aggressively producing every bit of clean energy that we can,” Tonko said Thursday in Albany.
The Capital Region Democrat criticized the Trump administration’s recent strategy to buy out companies developing offshore wind projects, calling it part of a broader effort to undermine renewable energy development.
“It’s an outright attempt to kill clean energy renewable projects out there and we shouldn’t allow that,” Tonko said.
President Donald Trump has long opposed wind farms, with arguments ranging from their impact on coastal views and wildlife to national security concerns.
“We’ll have hopefully no wind farms approved. We’re doing more than anybody in history having to do with energy, but I’ve restricted wind farms and windmills,” Trump said recently.
Tonko appeared in Albany as offshore wind advocates unveiled a new study highlighting what they say are the economic development and workforce benefits upstate New York could miss if the administration’s resistance continues.
“This personal vendetta fueled by misinformation is doing nothing to strengthen American manufacturing,” Tonko said.
In their study, Oceantic Network argues offshore wind development could particularly benefit steel manufacturing across the nation. Companies in areas such as the Capital Region, with access to New York Harbor through the Hudson River, could benefit from additional offshore wind projects. The Port of Coeymans south of the Capital City has already established itself as a manufacturing and distribution hub for off shore wind manufacturing.
“Offshore wind structures and the ports and vessels needed to operate their safe and successful operation all require specialized steel, and the tonnage needed for each wind farm, it’s massive,” said Stephanie Francoeur, senior vice president of communications for Oceantic Network.
Eric Brugeman, business manager for Iron Workers Local 12 in Albany, said the union’s participation in projects off the coast of Long Island in recent years demonstrates the potential economic impact.
“We wound up with 163,000 man hours down there, which put into our pension about $2.5 million, into our health fund about $1 million and into our training fund alone about half a million dollars,” Brugeman said.
The fight over offshore wind has been a persistent source of tension between New York officials and the Trump administration. Gov. Kathy Hochul has negotiated directly with Trump over projects facing federal stop-work orders, while the state attorney general’s office has sued the administration in conjunction with other states.
That lawsuit remains pending.
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