Winds of Change at Beach Lane

Big things are coming just off the coast in Wainscott. If you’ve been to Beach Lane recently, it’s hard to miss. Engineers and construction crews are now in the process of undertaking a seismic drilling operation to eventually connect offshore wind turbines to the East Hampton electrical grid. The project is an effort to address the growing needs and cost of energy in Suffolk County and is part of New York’s ambitious goals to combat climate change.

Construction of New York’s first offshore wind farm is being handled by South Fork Wind, a joint venture between Ørsted (Amagansett, NY) and Eversource Energy (Berlin, CT). South Fork Wind claims the 132 megawatts (MW) offshore wind farm will produce enough clean energy to power 70,000 homes. Or, in other words, the equivalent of taking 60,000 cars off the roads. Once completed, the 12 turbines—located 35 miles off the coast—are said to be out of sight from the beaches in East Hampton. 

Since construction began in October, Beach Lane has been lined by HUGE sound-dampening walls that have been hammered along the road. These measures are in consideration of the noise levels impacting local residents. While the company plans to keep construction mostly between 7am–7pm; however, they expect instances that may demand round-the-clock drilling.

Arriving November 15, the gigantic offshore lift vessel, named Jill is currently located about .3 miles off Beach Lane. Visible from many East Hampton beaches, Jill is 183’ long and 335’ tall. The 3 pillars on the boat are used to hoist the ship above the water during the construction of the Turbines. The ship is accompanied by the Brave, a 201’ vessel with support duties bringing crew and equipment from shore.  

The project is expected to be fully operational by December 2023. Click here for a video update.

Sea-to-Shore Transition

Using a heavy horizontal directional drill, a path will begin roughly .3 miles from the coast and bore a hole 80 feet under the beach. Once the hole has been drilled, a protective pipe/sleeve will be fitted into the borehole and a cable will be run through the conduit and connected to an offshore vessel which will carry the wire to the turbines. Construction is expected to complete in January 2023.

Underground Transmission Line / Onshore Cable Installation

Connecting the offshore turbines are approximately 4 miles of underground cable to be built on town roads and beneath the LIRR Corridor (completed in April 2022). Finally, the wires arrive at LIPA’s East Hampton Substation with step-down infrastructure from 138kV to 69kV. Construction is expected to be completed by April 2023.

CONTROVERSY

Selected over 21 other proposals and announced in 2017,  the project has never been far from controversy. Construction has been allowed to move forward with Judge Block staying a local Wainscott resident’s request to halt construction, noting, “Plaintiffs have failed to…demonstrate that irreparable harm is not just possible, but likely.”

The location selection has confused some Wainscott residents, who have concerns over the impact that the large-scale construction will have on the delicate coastal environment. Moreover, some are suspicious of the choice to locate turbines in Wainscott. Speaking to me on the beach, a local resident said, “I walk here every day and I’m not totally convinced that this project—which I am in theory a supporter of—will be without impact to this beach. I have not yet heard a valid explanation for why these substations are being built here, literally the westernmost point of East Hampton. Not to be conspiratorial, but wouldn’t it make the most engineering sense to build the conduits closer to the Village?”

The company issued a letter to Wainscott residents, which you can read here. Essentially, they claim that the Wainscott location was not selected “at random,” but rather, “it will have the least impact on the residents of the Town of East Hampton.” 

The fishing industry is concerned about the impact that the project will have on local marine life and those whose livelihood is connected to the health of the ocean. To mitigate those fears, South Fork Wind has a dedicated Marine Affairs Team, who provides dockside outreach and project updates. Additionally, public inquiries can be addressed to [email protected].