SCHUMER, IN DIRECT CALL WITH TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY BUTTIGIEG, URGES FEDS TO SEND MILLIONS TO FUND THE PORT OF ALBANY OFFSHORE WIND TOWER MANUFACTURING PROJECT, CREATING 550 NEW JOBS & BOLSTERING THE FIGHT AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE

Senator Says Capital Region And Upstate New York Can Be Home To The Offshore Wind Supply Chain—BUT It Will Take Federal Investment To Fully Lift Off 

Schumer Calls Secretary Buttigieg To Directly Advocate For Funding for the Port of Albany Through U.S. DOT’s MARAD Port Infrastructure Development Grant Program 

Schumer To Feds: Investing In Port of Albany Would Be A Win-Win-Win, Creating Hundreds Of New Green-Energy Union Jobs, Combatting Climate Change, & Helping NY Manufacturing Reach New Heights 

A longtime advocate for the Port of Albany’s revitalization, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer on a personal call with Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg urged the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) to approve a $29.5 million federal grant for the Port of Albany Offshore Wind Tower Manufacturing Project. Schumer said the project will be the first large scale offshore wind tower manufacturing facility in the U.S. and is forecasted to create approximately 500 construction jobs and 550 direct and full-time new manufacturing and support jobs.

“With a little lift from the federal government, the Port of Albany Offshore Wind Manufacturing Project can be one of the most significant job creating, renewable-energy economic development projects in the Capital Region’s history,” said Senator Schumer. “This project is a true win-win-win that will create hundreds of good-paying union jobs, boost New York’s clean-energy manufacturing sector, all while combatting climate change in big, bold ways. That’s why I made a direct phone call to Secretary Buttigieg to get the feds to be the wind beneath this projects wings and help the Port of Albany reach new heights.”

Rich Hendrick, CEO of the Port of Albany, said “The Port of Albany has worked with Senator Schumer, our Congressional delegation, the State of New York, and our private partners to develop the Offshore Wind Tower Manufacturing Port Project.  This project will contribute to global efforts to manage climate change, national efforts to transform our energy production processes and statewide efforts to reduce harmful emissions and grow a vibrant offshore wind industry.  We continue to work with local leaders to ensure these efforts are inclusive of our community and our neighbors.  Senator Schumer’s support for Federal funding comes at a critical time for such a transformative project and we thank him for continually fighting for this project and the meaningful economic impacts that off shore wind will bring to the Capital Region.”

Schumer said the Port of Albany manufacturing facility will have the fabrication and assembly capabilities to support the projects being developed in and off the coast of New York State as well as many future national offshore wind projects. Schumer explained that currently many of the offshore wind tower components are only available outside of the U.S. making this project critical in strengthening the U.S. domestic clean energy supply chain, and ensuring Upstate New York is a national hub for new wind technology manufacturing.

In the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) that was recently signed into law, Schumer secured more than $17 billion for port and waterway infrastructure, including $2.25 billion over five years for the DOT’s Port Infrastructure Development Program. Schumer also secured $7.5 billion over five years for the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grants and $3.2 billion over five years for the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) Grant Program, both of which can support port infrastructure development, and IIJA added port infrastructure as an eligible use of the Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing (RRIF) program.

A copy of Schumer’s original letter of support to Secretary Buttigieg appears below:

Dear Secretary Buttigieg,

I am pleased to write in support of the application submitted by the Port of Albany to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s 2021 Port Infrastructure Development Program grant (PIDP) to support the development of the United States’ first offshore wind tower manufacturing facility at the Port of Albany that is a partnership with Equinor and Marmen/Welcon. The Offshore Wind Tower Manufacturing Port Project grant application outlines the planned investment, substantial positive renewable energy and community benefits, as well as new job creation and major local investment.

The Port of Albany manufacturing facility will have the fabrication and assembly capabilities to support the projects being developed in New York State as well as many future national and regional offshore wind projects. Currently, the offshore wind tower components are only available outside of the U.S. The entire construction project is planned for more than $350 million investment including investment from Port, private and state of New York sources.

This project will create 550 jobs and likely to generate important additional economic benefits in New York State. It is expected that hundreds of construction jobs will be created to develop the site and an additional level of indirect jobs that are spurred by the planned manufacturing and maritime activities. Further, it is expected that this facility will generate substantial annual regional investments in direct payroll and procurement expenditures. This is precisely how we move the economy ahead with projects that invest in the green economy and have local benefits.

The PIDP funds are vital to reducing project risk and maximizing optionality during this unusually fluctuating international economic market. Energizing a green economy is key to our future. I applaud the Port of Albany for its foresight, and sincerely hope the application meets with your approval.

Thank you for your consideration. 

Sincerely,

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