About The Project
Current Efforts
Currently, our efforts are focused on project development work, including engaging with local stakeholders, businesses, and community members, identifying local economic development strategies, engaging with research organizations and maturing supply chain partnerships.
Additionally, Leading Light Wind's inaugural environmental survey program is underway. The program establishes multiple data collections for site characterization and project design. The data enables Leading Light Wind to identify, avoid, and minimize potential impacts to the environment, wildlife, and communities throughout project development, construction, and operations.
Key highlights:
- Conducted by Fugro, a series of benthic, geophysical, and geotechnical surveys will study the ecosystems, marine habitat, seabed, and soil conditions of the lease area and offshore cable routes.
- Mariner Updates will be disseminated in advance of all survey activities to ensure ongoing coordination with local fisheries and maritime stakeholders throughout the duration of survey work.
- Protected Species Observers (PSOs) will be aboard all survey vessels throughout the duration of the program. PSOs will monitor the area around the vessel during survey operations and vessel transits, record observations of protected species, and oversee protective procedures.
- Qualified Marine Archeologists (QMAs) are working with the survey team to ensure identification and protection of subsea archaeological features.
- Fisheries liaison representatives and scout vessels are coordinating with the survey team and fishermen to limit disruption to fishing activities around the survey areas.
Through robust science and stakeholder engagement, Leading Light Wind is committed to practicing responsible development. To learn more about our commitment to engaging with local and regional fisheries and maritime stakeholders, visit the For Mariners tab.
Leading Light Wind recently submitted a proposal in New York State’s third offshore wind solicitation for Offshore Wind Renewable Energy Certificates (NY3) and plans to participate in a similar upcoming solicitation for New Jersey.
Leading Light Wind Submits Bid in New York
In January, Leading Light Wind submitted its bid for an offshore wind power contract to the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).
Leading Light Wind’s proposal outlines a bold vision for New York that will deliver up to 2,100 MW of clean, reliable energy to power the equivalent of up to 800,000 New York homes every year. The proposed project will support tens of thousands of family-sustaining jobs over its operational life and represents billions in economic benefits for New York.
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 also 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 and is best positioned to create an American-led offshore wind union workforce.
Leading Light Wind NY3 bid by the numbers:
- Over $13 billion in economic benefits for New York State ($8.2 billion from the Leading Light Wind project, and $5.1 billion from the Supply Chain Investment Plans or SCIPs)
- Up to 25,000 job-years associated with the project and SCIP investments over the contract period
- MOU labor agreement underscoring commitment to workforce development and local job creation
- Up to $300 million offered via community benefits program for stakeholder-directed priorities
- Year 1 carbon emissions reductions of up to 1.96 million tons, equivalent to taking approx. 384,000 gas-powered vehicles off the road annually
Learn more about our bold vision for New York here.
Project Partners
Leading Light Wind is led by project sponsors Invenergy and New York-based energyRe. This partnership represents decades of renewable energy infrastructure expertise and a strategic local presence.
A consortium of investors composed of Blackstone Infrastructure Partners (NYSE: BX), CDPQ, FirstLight Power, and Ullico Infrastructure Fund will provide funding for Leading Light Wind.
About Invenergy
Invenergy is the largest, privately-held developer, owner and operator of sustainable energy solutions. A U.S. based company, Invenergy and its affiliated companies have successfully developed more than 30,000 megawatts of projects that are in operation, construction, or contracted, including wind, solar, transmission infrastructure, natural gas power generation and advanced energy storage projects. Its clean energy generation and storage facilities are located across the Americas, Europe, and Asia.
About energyRe
energyRe, LLC is an independent, New York-based company focused on solving complex challenges and providing clean energy solutions. energyRe is guided by the values of community engagement, government partnership, and a demonstrated commitment to sustainability. energyRe’s founding partners include principals of Related Companies, the nation’s most prominent privately-owned real estate firm and one of the country's largest creators and preservationists of affordable housing.
Regional Expertise
Since 2009, Invenergy has developed 16 projects across the northeastern United States, totaling more than 3,500 megawatts (MW). These projects include wind, solar, energy storage & natural gas facilities, and have generated investments of more than $18 million annually in local communities. Along with its generation portfolio Invenergy, in partnership with New York Power Authority and energyRE, is developing Clean Path New York, an $11 billion renewable energy and transmission infrastructure project that will enable the delivery of more than 7.5 million megawatt-hours of emissions-free energy into New York City every year—100%-generated in New York State.