Friday, July 24, 2020
The fate of the offshore wind industry is at stake and we need your help today!
Special interest groups are advocating for changes to the offshore development area off the coast of Massachusetts that would be both detrimental and precedent-setting for all future projects, including those looking to connect into the New York State power grid.
Over the past couple of weeks, local unions, central labor councils and state federations across New England have submitted comments calling on the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to keep offshore wind projects on track. It's becoming increasingly clear that the stakes are high for the entire industry and the impact of the decision will extend far beyond New England. We are asking you to make your voices heard, as offshore wind has the potential to drive our economic recovery-and more regulatory hurdles from BOEM would put those economic benefits at risk.
Some of the proposed changes, if accepted, would result in a reduction in the size and scale of offshore wind farms and will significantly delay the development of the 20GW of offshore wind currently in the pipeline. This will mean far fewer work opportunities for our brothers and sisters in a new, billion-dollar industry.
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is accepting comments from the public until the end of the work day, Monday, July 27th and we need your help! To make commenting easy, we've put together some talking points that can be copied and pasted, or feel free to submit your own.
Just Copy any of the remarks below and paste them into the "Comments" section of the website in the link. Complete the questions that are asked and press "Submit."
- This work is critical to the future of our national security, environment, and economic recovery. As the first commercial-scale offshore wind project in the US, Vineyard Wind 1 will play a critical role in establishing a domestic offshore wind industry and realizing the tremendous potential economic benefits of this rapidly emerging industry. Locally, Vineyard Wind 1 is expected to create 3,600 jobs - many of them unionized - as the offshore wind industry is built out over the next few years. We urge BOEM to stick to its published schedule, issue a Final Environmental Impact Statement in November and a record of decision approving the project, as proposed and modified by the applicant in December.
- Offshore wind has the potential to drive economic recovery and stimulate coastal economies up and down the east coast. As we begin recovering from the unprecedented social and economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the approval of this project will directly lead to the creation of thousands of jobs in the trades that come with good pay and benefits.
- As a union member I support offshore wind. Large scale utility development like offshore wind not only will help reduce our massive carbon footprint but will also mean a tremendous amount of economic opportunity in the form of jobs and community benefits. We have been preparing for this moment for a very long time. We urge approvals be as expeditious as possible to get the men and women in the building trades to work.
- We ask you to reject alternative F, which calls for a 4 x 4 Nautical Mile layout and stick with the 1 X 1 Nautical Mile layout the Coast Guard has approved.
- We urge BOEM to stick to its published schedule, issue a Final Environmental Impact Statement in November and a record of decision approving the project, as proposed and modified by the applicant in December.
Thank you in advance. Together, we can make this once in a generation opportunity and make it a reality on Long Island and in New York State!
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