The Sierra Club On Global Wind Day: Say YES to Offshore Wind

Washington, D.C.- Today, the Sierra Club is celebrating Global Wind Day by encouraging communities across the country to show their support for offshore wind. Offshore wind projects in the United States have the potential to create over 770,000 jobs by 2030 and generate enough energy to power up to six million homes.

Despite declaring an "energy emergency", the Trump Administration has launched multiple attacks on the wind industry, including pausing permitting on all wind projects. In April, the Department of Interior orderedthe Empire Wind Project to stop all development, putting thousands of jobs in jeopardy. The Sierra Club, other environmental organizations, and elected officials continued to push back until the Department of Interior liftedits stop-work order.

In response, Sierra Club Senior Advisor for Offshore Wind issued the following statement:

"Americans are ready to move beyond toxic, expensive fossil fuels, and embrace cheaper, cleaner energy from offshore wind. Offshore wind is the key to achieving U.S. energy dominance-it's a powerhouse for our economy that will create thousands of stable, well-paying jobs from coast to coast. Today, we are urging Americans to say YES to offshore wind and the opportunities these projects will bring to our communities."

Allyson Samuell, Sierra Club New York Senior Campaign Organizer added:

"On Friday, I stood outside Ravenswood Generating Station in Queens, New York, the largest power plant in NYC, to celebrate Global Wind Day and urge New York State to continue investing in the infrastructure that will help us finally transition away from fossil fuels. In the near future our goal is to plug offshore wind into the NYC grid where this aging gas infrastructure currently stands. With the massive smoke stacks towering over us, New Yorkers imagined a future where our communities no longer suffered from increased asthma rates as a result of the pollution. We were joined by the owners of the power plant, Rise Light and Power, along with various other advocates and members of the community who've fought for this transition for decades. With offshore wind online, we can make this vision a reality."

Julia Dowell, Sierra Club California Senior Campaign Organizer added:

"Despite federal opposition, California is standing strong on offshore wind. Offshore wind is widely popular, and it's a critical piece of the puzzle to reaching the state's 100% clean energy goals and retiring the more than 160 gas plants across the state. Ensuring that offshore wind energy gets built out and delivered to communities currently relying on polluting gas plants is key to delivering much-needed green jobs and healthy air."

Mariah Shriner, Sierra Club Maryland Climate Campaign Representative added:

"Offshore wind energy is a critical resource that will help Maryland reduce greenhouse gas emissions and tackle climate change. By moving away from reliance on dirty fossil fuel energy and expanding renewable energy resources, Marylanders will be able to breathe cleaner air and benefit from new clean energy jobs."

About the Sierra Club

The Sierra Club is America's largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit https://www.sierraclub.org.