The economic impact of the Port of Coeyman’s wind-power project on local businesses and townspeople was the focus of an insightful RCS CBA breakfast meeting on January 20. The event was hosted at CTI, LLC, a business located in the Port of Coeymans.
Josh Kowalski, vice president of sales and business development, gave an overview of the endeavor, which will include assembling components of the giant turbines, towers and blades then loading them on barges bound for federally-designated Atlantic Ocean sites for completion.
John Kowalski, VP Sales and Business Development
at Carver Companies, Coeymans
Orsted, the world’s largest developer of offshore-wind projects, selected the Port of Coeymans for the work because it has the land, high load capacity dock and deep water draft needed for the job. They also selected Coeymans because of its track record of success with other large scale projects, including the assembly and delivery of huge sections of the Tappan Zee Bridge.
Carver Companies President of Sales and Business Development Stephen Kelly also spoke at the event. He pointed out that there are multiple wind-power projects in development and the Port of Coeymans is one of only three ports on the east coast able to supply the infrastructure needed for these large-scale jobs. This sets Coeymans apart as a long-term potential supplier to the industry.
Kelly said the Coeymans area will see 210 direct jobs created as a result of the wind-power project. Local businesses will get an influx of new customers as a result. Additional tax revenue will also be generated by the project, and education and career opportunities in the industry will give kids a reason to stay local.
Stephen Kelly, President of Sales and Business Development
at Carver Companies, Coeymans
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) Senior Advisor for Offshore Wind Peter Lion also spoke on the potential of wind-power.
Lion said New York State is a leader in championing this alternative energy and worked hard to ensure state businesses could benefit from it. He also said NYSERDA is helping to create education and training programs at local schools to support the employment needs of the wind-power industry.
Construction work for the site is slated to begin the third quarter of this year, with the manufacturing of components bound for Coeymans to begin as soon as the first quarter of 2023.