Construction Updates

Sunrise Wind is on track to begin construction this summer.

Sunrise Wind is the future of American clean energy, and that future is being built by New Yorkers, for New Yorkers. Construction of the project is underway. As the project developer and owner, Ørsted aims to be transparent with residents, businesses, and other stakeholders about construction developments.



On this page, you will find weekly construction updates, maps of construction routes and areas undergoing work, and frequently asked questions. This page will be updated as construction progresses. For the latest information, please see the public notice and updated sections below.

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Cable route for Sunrise Wind project
Construction information
  • What is your timeline for completing the project?
    Construction is planned to begin in summer 2024. The first phase of construction will include the onshore converter station on Union Avenue in Holbrook and establishing laydown yards for equipment and material storage and set-up. We anticipate Sunrise Wind to be operational by 2026.
  • How does offshore wind energy get to the electrical grid?
    Once the offshore cable comes ashore deep under the beach, it will travel primarily under the roadways via a purpose-built transmission line to an onshore converter station being constructed on Union Avenue in Holbrook.  From there, an underground cable will connect the converted power to the existing grid at the Holbrook PSEG Long Island Substation.
  • How did you choose the cable route? Why not take a different route?
    Sunrise Wind has conducted extensive technical and environmental surveys, evaluated several landing locations, and consulted with local stakeholders to determine the best route for the cable connecting the wind farm to the substation. Based on this evaluation, a cable landing at Smith Point County Park and the route shown have been identified as the preferred route and has been approved by the State Public Service Commission, as it allows us to minimize disruption, avoid environmentally sensitive areas, and stay within existing rights-of-way; and minimize disruption to homes, businesses, and residents. 
  • Will cable installation disrupt beach access?
    No. We will use a very common technique known as horizontal directional drilling (HDD) that allows us to drill deep under the beach without disturbing its surface. It also allows us to maintain public access to the beach throughout the construction process. An animation of the process is available here.
  • Will I see the wind turbines from the beach?
    The closest offshore wind turbines will be at least 30 miles off the coast of Long Island, making them hardly visible.
  • Will the construction of the project require our beach to be closed?
    Access to Smith Point Beach and Smith Point Marina will be maintained throughout the project.  Impacts to the beach will be limited to the temporary use of specific beach locations to facilitate the pulling of the HDD conduit string.  To ensure the safety of the public during these activities, a small section of the beach may be temporarily closed.  This activity will occur between fall and spring to minimize impacts to the public.
  • If I live along the route, will I have road and driveway access during construction?

    Yes, the construction team will have steel plates on hand to maintain access to properties. These steel plates can be installed within minutes or can be preinstalled to meet property owners’ schedules.

    The project team will provide weekly email notices with construction details to keep residents informed about the timing of construction near their properties. Members of the field team will also provide door-to-door notice to residences as the construction zone approaches, and field managers will be onsite at all times providing a point of contact for residents to discuss any access accommodation needs. Additional inquiries or concerns can also be relayed to info@sunrisewindny.com or 631-887-5470.

  • Will Ørsted repair damage resulting from onshore construction activities?
    Yes. All public curbs and streets will be restored to previous conditions. For concerns regarding property damage resulting from onshore construction activities, please call 631-887-5470, or email us at info@sunrisewindny.com.
  • Is there any oversight? Who ensures that Ørsted does what it says?
    A number of state and local regulatory authorities are heavily involved in this project. At the federal level, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) leads a review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) that includes the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), the Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), and the Department of Defense (DOD), among others. At the state level, the Public Service Commission (PSC) leads a review under the Article VII of the Public Service Act that includes the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (SHPO), among others. Local real estate rights have also been obtained from Suffolk County and the Town of Brookhaven. The permits will require monitoring (including state directed independent monitors) and reporting both while we’re constructing the project and after construction is complete.
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Understanding offshore wind construction

What exactly goes into constructing an offshore wind farm – and how does clean energy get transported to shore? We explain the phases of siting, building, and operating an offshore wind farm.

Documents and other resources

Want to know more about Sunrise Wind? Access our scoping presentations, permitting applications, town hall transcripts, regulatory documents, and more. You can also read our project fact sheets, provided in both English and Spanish.

Environmental studies 
  • Atlantic sea scallop monitoring 
    As part of our Fisheries and Benthic Monitoring Plan for Sunrise Wind, Ørsted is tracking the relative abundance, distribution, and size structure of Atlantic sea scallops using the HabCam v3. This non-extractive sampling tool, owned and operated by the Coonamessett Farm Foundation, uses optical technology to assess benthic populations. Using the Habcam v3, we can conduct Before-After Control-Impact studies to evaluate changes in scallops’ relative abundance, distribution, and size structure between Sunrise Wind and a reference control area. We are collecting data from the pre-construction, construction, and post-construction phases.

    Atlantic sea scallop monitoring 2022 (pdf) 
    Atlantic sea scallop monitoring 2023 (pdf)
  • Inshore acoustic telemetry study 
    Together with the Cornell Cooperative Extension and Stony Brook University, we are conducting a multi-year acoustic telemetry study assessing the effects of installation and operation of Sunrise Wind’s export cables on the behavior of tagged individuals. This study uses a 21-receiver positional array at Sunrise Wind’s cable landing to track the fine-scale movements of tagged individuals, focusing on elasmobranchs (e.g., sharks, skates), horseshoe crabs, and lobsters. Acoustic receivers were deployed in 2022, with data downloaded from them up to three times annually.

    Inshore acoustic telemetry study 2022 (pdf)
    Inshore acoustic telemetry study 2023 (pdf)
  • Assessing highly migratory species 
    Together with the New England Aquarium and INSPIRE Environmental, Ørsted is using passive acoustic telemetry to monitor the presence, movement, and residence of highly migratory species (e.g., sharks, tuna) in areas with offshore wind activity. Passive acoustic telemetry is a common tool for studying the movement patterns and habitat use of marine fish over fine- and broad-scale spatial extents. For this study, 32 acoustic receivers have been deployed across all of Ørsted's lease areas in the Northeast, including Sunrise Wind. Acoustic devices were deployed in 2022, with data downloaded from them up to three times annually.

    Assessing highly migratory species 2022 (pdf)
    Assessing highly migratory species 2023 (pdf)
  • Fisheries monitoring studies – Stakeholder presentations 
    In the Spring of 2024, we hosted a virtual share day, updating stakeholders on the progress of baseline studies conducted in the Sunrise Wind project area. The update built upon information presented to stakeholders in Spring 2023, which introduced the types and purpose of the studies. 

    Presentation Day 2024 (pdf)
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Suppliers

We're building a local offshore wind ecosystem, and suppliers across New York are critical to Sunrise Wind's success. Let us know how you can be a part of New York’s clean energy future.

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Are you an offshore wind supplier looking to work with Ørsted? Are you looking for more information about Sunrise Wind? Our experts are available to answer all your questions.