Offshore Wind and Nature-Based Solutions are a Win-Win for New York Harbor

A healthy and stable ecosystem in New York Harbor is essential for the long-term sustainability of both humans and nature in the New York Region. Oysters can tell us a lot about climate change and its impact on the Harbor as they are sensitive to changes in water temperature, acidity, and nutrient levels all of which are affected by climate change.  

As an organization dedicated to the restoration of New York Harbor through the power of oysters and nature-based solutions, we work every day to ensure that our conservation efforts contribute to a healthy harbor ecosystem. That is why we are excited about the promise of harnessing the power of offshore wind in New York Harbor.

Through New York State’s ambitious offshore wind clean energy targets, we can begin to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and move towards a more sustainable future. But offshore wind is not just important to combating climate change, it also provides opportunities for environmental education, conservation, and ecological economic growth – values that align in a multitude of ways with our values at the Billion Oyster Project.  

That is why we are partnering with a proposed project called Attentive Energy One which aims to bring clean energy into New York State through its lease area 50 miles south of Long Island and interconnecting at the Ravenswood Generating Station in Western Queens.

Billion Oyster Project’s partnership is an example of how Attentive Energy One is positioned to respond to uniquely local economic and climate-focused opportunities while also meeting New York’s growing offshore wind and clean energy demands. This is clear in the project’s vision to retire and replace current fossil fuel generation as well as its commitments to conservation and biodiversity in New York Harbor.    

These commitments include helping to scale Billion Oyster Project’s capacity to restore 100 million juvenile oysters per year — on our way to introducing one billion oysters by 2035. Offshore wind is a partner in this effort, an effort that recognizes the many co-benefits of oyster reefs - natural water filtration systems that remove pollutants and improve water quality, habitat for a variety of marine species, and a driver for commercial and recreational fishing industries. Additionally, oyster reefs can help prevent coastal erosion by reducing the impact of waves and storms, which can protect shorelines and nearby infrastructure.

This type of ecosystem-based approach to renewable energy is critical, but it’s also only part of the story. By supporting the New York Harbor ecosystem through nature-based solutions, project’s like Attentive Energy One will create new opportunities for work, education, and recreation. 

For young people interested in marine science and engineering, offshore wind projects offer a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience and explore potential career paths. The installation, maintenance, and operation of offshore wind turbines requires specialized skills and expertise, creating new jobs and economic opportunities for local communities. 

At the Billion Oyster Project, we believe that youth education is key to creating a more sustainable future. Through our education programs, we work with students to restore oyster habitat in New York Harbor, teaching them about marine ecology and conservation in the process. Offshore wind projects such as Attentive Energy One provide a natural extension of this work, allowing us to engage students particularly with our partner at the Harbor School in the study of renewable energy and the marine environment.

Through industry, non-profit, and educational institutions working together to propel offshore wind developments, we are not only safeguarding our environment and natural resources, but also ensuring a sustainable future for ourselves and future generations.