State Legislators Tour South Brooklyn Marine Terminal for Offshore Wind Learning Experience

Overview

In January, NCEL convened a cohort of 18 legislators from five states at the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal (SBMT) for a tour of WindScape Brooklyn — a state-of-the-art offshore wind learning center and community space. During the tour, state lawmakers learned more about the Empire Wind 1 project while taking part in discussions regarding shared challenges and opportunities within the offshore wind space. The experience equipped legislators with practical insights on offshore wind to bring back to their states related to workforce development, climate goals, and community engagement. 

• About SBMT: Located along Sunset Park’s working waterfront is one of the largest offshore wind hubs in the U.S., the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal (SBMT). Chosen by international energy company Equinor for its location, size, access, and workforce availability, SBMT serves as the base of operations for the Empire Wind 1 project.

Setting the Scene: SBMT and Empire Wind 1

The day kicked off with a presentation by South Brooklyn Marine Terminal staff on SBMT’s transformation, highlighting the 1,000 union construction jobs created and the intentional community engagement with the New York City Economic Development Corporation and the broader Sunset Park community. Attendees then heard from Equinor about the nearly completed Empire Wind 1 project, which will deliver 810 MW of energy into Brooklyn starting in late 2026 — enough to power roughly 500,000 homes — and will become the first offshore wind project to connect directly to New York City’s grid through its onshore substation.

WindScape Brooklyn Tour

Following the presentations, attendees had a chance to tour WindScape and interact with a range of exhibits that highlighted the economic and environmental benefits of offshore wind. Exhibits included “Surveying the Sea,” where legislators learned about techniques used to mitigate wildlife impacts during the offshore wind installation process. “Tools of the Trade” detailed career paths in the offshore wind industry and used virtual reality to guide participants through the process of repairing an offshore wind turbine. 

Offshore Wind and State Policy

Following the tour, attendees heard from The Groundwire Group and Clean Air Task Force on the important role offshore wind plays in helping states meet energy decarbonization goals and ensure grid reliability. They also previewed their newly released resource “Leading on Offshore Wind Through 2029 and Beyond,” which highlights steps states can take individually and regionally to advance offshore wind projects despite federal delays and red tape. 

To conclude the visit, attendees participated in an open dialogue about the status of offshore wind projects in their states. The legislators — representing five states at various stages of offshore wind progress — shared ideas for working together at the state and regional levels to address issues related to procurement, transmission, and permitting.

Looking Ahead

The visit underscored how projects like Empire Wind 1 and investments at SBMT are translating offshore wind ambition into real economic, community, and climate benefits. By bringing legislators together to share lessons and strategies, this NCEL convening highlighted the importance of regional collaboration to overcome shared challenges. As offshore wind continues to evolve, this type of collaboration will be highly impactful in helping states deliver clean, reliable energy at scale.