Long Island Association Study Finds Construction of South Fork Wind and Sunrise Wind Will Generate More Than $460 Million in Economic Impact for Long Island
During Operations Phase, Projects Will Also Fund $200 Million in Local Community Payments and Generate a Recurring $20 Million Annual Economic Impact
New Analysis Highlights Offshore Wind's Significant Role in Strengthening Long Island's Economy and Workforce
During Operations Phase, Projects Will Also Fund $200 Million in Local Community Payments and Generate a Recurring $20 Million Annual Economic Impact
New Analysis Highlights Offshore Wind's Significant Role in Strengthening Long Island's Economy and Workforce
Melville, NY – August 18, 2026 -- The Long Island Association (LIA), the region's leading non-profit and non-partisan business organization, today released a new study finding that the construction of the South Fork Wind and Sunrise Wind offshore wind projects will generate more than $460 million in economic impact across Nassau and Suffolk Counties between 2022 and 2027, reinforcing the important role offshore wind plays in strengthening Long Island's economy while diversifying the region's energy portfolio.
The $460 million of economic impact during 2022 to 2027 includes an estimated $95 million in construction-related economic impacts from South Fork Wind, more than $350 million from Sunrise Wind, and an additional $20 million in economic activity generated by the Operations and Maintenance Hub in East Setauket. After 2027, the study estimates an additional $20 million in recurring annual economic activity from the Operations and Maintenance Hub, supplemented by $200 million in already committed host community payments over 25 years.
The analysis examines the direct, indirect, and induced economic impacts of the two projects, measuring not only construction spending but also the ripple effects on Long Island businesses, workers, suppliers, and local communities.
"Long Island's future depends on having an energy system that is reliable, affordable, and capable of supporting continued economic growth," said Stacey Sikes, Acting President and CEO of the Long Island Association. "This study demonstrates that offshore wind is already delivering meaningful economic benefits for our region while contributing to a reliable energy grid. As demand continues to increase, these findings reinforce why the LIA has consistently supported an all-of-the-above energy strategy that expands supply, strengthens grid efficiency, and positions Long Island for long-term economic success, because energy is the foundation for economic growth."
Lawrence J. Waldman, LIA Board Chairman: "For Long Island to remain competitive, we must continue investing in the infrastructure that powers our economy. This study shows that offshore wind is producing tangible economic returns for local businesses, workers, and communities while becoming an increasingly important part of a balanced, diversified energy portfolio that will help meet Long Island's future needs."
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority President and CEO Doreen M. Harris said, “This study reinforces the real benefits we have already seen from the construction of South Fork Wind and Sunrise Wind. Both projects have employed hundreds of New Yorkers, including good-paying union jobs as part of a growing sector that has spurred significant economic development and private investment throughout the state and beyond. The offshore energy industry in New York State is also improving the reliability of our grid with locally produced energy to ensure an affordable, reliable and abundant energy supply that will power Long Island homes for decades to come.”
Congressman Andrew Garbarino (NY-02) added, “This report reinforces what we've known for years: investing in reliable, diverse energy sources creates good-paying jobs and delivers real economic benefits for Long Island. South Fork Wind and Sunrise Wind are creating opportunities for local workers while strengthening our energy infrastructure. As Long Island's energy needs continue to grow, we need an all-of-the-above energy strategy that keeps our grid reliable and supports our economy. This report is another clear reminder that we need to keep these offshore wind projects moving forward.”
South Fork Wind, the nation's first utility-scale offshore wind farm, became operational in 2024 and generates 132 megawatts of electricity—enough to power approximately 70,000 New York homes. Sunrise Wind is expected to be completed in 2027 and will power nearly 600,000 homes, adding new electricity generation equivalent to nearly 20 percent of Long Island's current electrical load. Together, the projects represent not only a major investment in Long Island's energy infrastructure, but also a significant driver of economic activity, workforce development, and local business growth.
Among the study's key findings:
- More than $460 million in economic impact generated on Long Island between 2022 and 2027 from South Fork Wind, Sunrise Wind, and the Operations and Maintenance Hub.
- South Fork Wind generated an estimated $95 million in economic impact while supporting approximately 387 combined direct, indirect, and induced jobs.
- Sunrise Wind is projected to generate more than $350 million in economic impact while supporting approximately 1,400 combined direct, indirect, and induced jobs.
- The Operations and Maintenance Hub in East Setauket is expected to generate approximately $20 million in recurring annual economic impact while supporting long-term, high-skilled jobs on Long Island.
- Under host community agreements, the projects will also pay a total of approximately $200 million to the Town of East Hampton and the Town of Brookhaven.
- The study used the IMPLAN economic model, the gold standard for regional economic impact analysis.
The study measures more than direct project investment -- it captures how construction spending supports local businesses, creates jobs, and generates additional economic activity as workers spend their wages throughout Nassau and Suffolk Counties. The analysis also reflects broader investments in Long Island, including the National Offshore Wind Training Center in Brentwood and a research partnership with Stony Brook University.
“We need offshore wind to create good-paying Suffolk County jobs. Continuing to explore alternate methods of generating energy is critical to our region’s economy,” said Suffolk County Executive Edward P. Romaine.
Town of Brookhaven Supervisor Daniel J. Panico shared, “Decades ago the transatlantic cables came ashore in Brookhaven. Now, thanks to the very well-planned and coordinated efforts of many, the cables for Sunrise Wind have seamlessly come ashore into Brookhaven, along with real tangible economic benefits. Soon this project will be fully operational, providing much-needed power that our region sorely needs, given the aging nature of our base-load energy generation assets and the seemingly ever-changing energy policies and initiatives in our state.”
East Hampton Town Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez stated, “South Fork Wind began with a commitment here in East Hampton to do our part in building a clean energy future, and this report shows that commitment is also creating real economic benefits for working families and local businesses. We are proud that East Hampton helped lead the way, and even prouder that the impact will continue to be felt by the people who live and work here.”
Carrie Meek Gallagher, Chief Executive Officer of the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) said, "Offshore wind is a valuable resource in LIPA’s power supply mix, consistently contributing reliable, clean energy to our electric system when we need it most, and will continue to be an important part of our plans for Long Island’s energy future. This report recognizes the many meaningful ways that offshore wind delivers for our communities, and reinforces that building energy infrastructure is about people, skills development, and investing in long-term capability."
“The Long Island Association’s study highlights that to truly secure America’s energy and economic future, facts must inform our politics, and we must stop letting politics derail common sense public policy. This report could not have come at a better time. The Long Island Power Authority is in the middle of studying Long Island’s latest integrated resource plan, and the LIA’s study, reinforces that South Fork and Sunrise Wind have, and will continue, to deliver hundreds of millions of dollars of economic value to our region. It is generation projects like South Fork and Sunrise Wind, coupled with transmission and distribution projects, like Propel NY, that are necessary to deliver a more affordable, reliable, and increasingly clean energy economy for all Long Islanders,” said John R. Durso, President of the Long Island Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO.
The South Fork and Sunrise Wind projects represent more than investments in clean energy—they are investments in Long Island's workforce and future. These projects create meaningful opportunities for the 65,000 skilled men and women of the Nassau Suffolk Building and Construction Trades Council while delivering lasting economic benefits to our region. These projects were a portion of creating nearly 7 Million Man-Hours coupled with nearly $200 million in host community investments and a reliable energy supply that can attract new businesses, offshore wind development has the potential to strengthen local communities, support good-paying union jobs, and drive long-term economic growth across Long Island,” added Matthew Aracich, President Building and Construction Trades Council of Nassau and Suffolk Counties.
The full report can be found here.
About the Long Island Association
The Long Island Association (LIA) is celebrating its Centennial in 2026, and 100 years of advocating for the region's business community and economic growth as a non-partisan, non-profit organization. The LIA's regional leadership has played a direct role in shepherding progress by urging for government policies and securing funding that created jobs for people who sought the suburban way of life. The LIA is the voice for businesses in Nassau and Suffolk Counties and has introduced unparalleled opportunities for businesses to network and build relationships to accelerate their growth. For more information, visit longislandassociation.org.
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Tatiana LaSalle External Affairs Coordinator
- August 18, 2026
- (631) 493-3000
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