The Long Island Association, Business Leaders, and Labor Unions Support Sunrise Wind and Urge the Federal Government to Ensure the Project Reaches the Finish Line

Melville, NY – Today, the Long Island Association, Association for a Better Long Island, Long Island Builders Institute, Long Island Contractors Association, HIA-LIA, Long Island Federation of Labor and Building Trades of Nassau and Suffolk Counties urged the U.S. Bureau of Ocean and Energy Management (BOEM) to drop their lease suspension order against Sunrise Wind so the project – which is 45% completed - can come to fruition.  
 
The group highlighted the substantial economic benefits of the offshore wind project including stabilizing the price of energy, and the union jobs and downstream supply chain windfall in a letter to Acting Director of BOEM Matthew Giancona, and expressed the need to advance the project without any further disruptions. 
 
Sunrise Wind is under construction 30 miles off of Montauk and is anticipated to be operational next year, generating enough energy to power 600,000 homes. The project has faced headwinds with the recent suspension order from the BOEM that is being challenged in court by project developer Ørsted and is currently under a preliminary injunction that allows construction to continue while the lawsuit progresses. 
 
Matt Cohen, LIA President & CEO, said, “The LIA urges the federal government to rescind their suspension order immediately, and allow this job-creating project that supports a stable grid capable of accommodating future economic growth to make it to the finish line. The economic benefits to Long Island and New York are undeniable – and the LIA supports an all-of-the-above energy strategy that incorporates all potential sources into our portfolio so our region can be prosperous.” 
 
Lawrence Waldman, Chairman of the Long Island Association, said, “Sunrise Wind is well on its way to being completed and has already undergone an extensive government approval process, and should continue as planned. In addition to the significant job creating and other economic benefits, it helps Long Island and New York integrate another source of energy into our portfolio, which is critical for a reliable and affordable grid.” 
 
Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine said, “We respectfully request that the BOEM adhere to the court’s decision and allow this project to proceed. The Sunrise Project will provide much-needed alternative energy solutions and create and has created hundreds of jobs for skilled laborers. We want to see this project move forward.”
 
Kyle Strober, Executive Director of Association for a Better Long Island, said, “Long Island’s unique geography positions it well to benefit from the tens of millions of dollars in economic activity and thousands of jobs this project represents. As Sunrise Wind moves forward, we must not only recognize its enormous economic and energy benefits but also sustain our support for its construction in a manner that underscores a unified alliance of public-private Long Island leadership.”
 
Terri Alessi-Miceli, President & CEO of HIA-LI, said, “This critical infrastructure project strengthens Long Island’s energy future while creating good-paying jobs and long-term economic benefits for our region. Sunrise Wind represents a practical step toward diversifying our energy mix and investing in offshore wind in a way that supports reliability, sustainability, and continued growth for Long Island and New York State.”
 
Mike Florio, CEO of Long Island Builders Institute, said, “Projects like Sunrise Wind are critical to Long Island’s future as we work to diversify our energy mix and invest in practical, reliable offshore wind infrastructure. Affordable and dependable energy is directly tied to housing production and the overall cost of living in our region. If we are serious about building more homes, supporting the workforce, and keeping Long Island competitive, we need energy solutions that are sustainable, scalable, and planned with growth in mind.”
 
Marc Herbst, Executive Director of the Long Island Contractors’ Association (LICA), said, “LICA applauds the decision to allow construction of Sunrise Wind to resume. This project represents a major opportunity to create good-paying union jobs, strengthen Long Island’s workforce, and deliver long-term economic benefits for our region. Now is the time for Long Island’s business and labor leaders to keep the momentum going and continue advocating for the economic growth, local investment, and job creation Sunrise Wind will bring to our communities.”

John Durso, President of the Long Island Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, said, “We cannot afford further delays to critical energy infrastructure.  Lifting the stop work order allows Sunrise Wind to move forward delivering union jobs, strengthening our energy grid, and advancing the kind of real progress Long Island needs.  After repeated attempts to disrupt this project, the court’s ruling is a much-needed win for Long Islanders.”
 
Ryan Stanton, Executive Director of the Long Island Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, said, “The court’s decision on Sunrise Wind is a win for Long Island and a win for the rule of law.  This project delivers exactly what Long Island needs: power generation, energy resiliency, and thousands of good-paying union jobs.  It has already proven its economic value, and this court decision reinforces Critical energy infrastructure must not be politicized.”
 
Matthew Aracich, President of The Building and Construction Trades Council of Nassau & Suffolk Counties, said, “The Building and Construction Trades Council of Nassau & Suffolk Counties is grateful for the Federal Judge’s decision to lift the stop work order on Offshore Wind development on Long Island. These projects represent a critical investment in good-paying, union jobs and long-term economic stability for our region. Restarting the region’s projects has immediately put skilled tradespeople back to work, supporting thousands of positions in the construction, and manufacturing jobs that strengthen local supply chains. Labor believes we can grow our economy while protecting our environment, and Offshore Wind allows us to do both—creating union jobs here at home while advancing clean, reliable energy.”
 
Robert Fonti, Chairman of the Suffolk County Alliance of Chambers, said, “The Sunrise Wind Project represents both an energy investment and an economic opportunity for Long Island. Our small businesses want to see projects that create jobs, support local contractors, and move our region forward responsibly. The Suffolk County Alliance of Chambers supports efforts that strengthen our economy while planning for the future.” 
 
The economic benefits of Sunrise Wind include: 

• More than 1,000 local union jobs, totaling more than 1 million union work hours. 
• Nearly $2 billion in economic benefits in New York – including over $800 million in wages and benefits over the project’s 25-year contract with the State.
• $170 million in host community payments to the Town of Brookhaven, making this the largest ever community benefits package in Long Island history. 
• Ørsted’s new Operations and Maintenance Hub in East Setauket, which already employs dozens of Long Islanders and was expected to grow significantly with new permanent jobs with the completion of Sunrise Wind. 
• A $10 million grant to the National Offshore Wind Training Center. 
• A $5 million grant to Stony Brook University. 

 
About the Long Island Association 
The 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.