New York’s Staten Island. The Richmond County Democratic Committee condemned President Donald Trump’s rash attack in a statement a few days after he signed an executive order blocking new offshore wind leases and permits that could affect the future of the planned Arthur Kill Terminal.
At the base of the Outerbridge Crossing, the Arthur Kill Terminal, which has been in the planning stages for more than five years, is intended to serve as a specialized port where offshore wind turbines and towers might be erected and staged before being transported out to sea.
However, the likelihood that the port will begin construction, which would create hundreds of union jobs on Staten Island, will gradually decrease as a result of Trump’s executive orders prohibiting the approval of any new offshore wind projects.
A 2019 depiction of the Arthur Kill Terminal location is shown. (Source: Atlantic Offshore Terminals/Arthur Kill Terminal)Thanks to Atlantic Offshore Terminals/Arthur Kill Terminal
Six hundred of the jobs will be in the building industry, and if the project goes forward, another 150 jobs will emerge in the operations sector.
In a written statement, Richmond County Democratic Committee Chair Laura Sword stated that Staten Island will miss out on the project’s enormous economic benefits because of the president’s petty fixation with and contempt for innovative wind technology. Almost all of our local elected leaders viewed this as a significant victory for the borough and backed it throughout. To make sure we don’t lose these desperately needed employment, Staten Islanders want to know if their politicians will stand behind them and fight this presidential order together.
There is no data to support Trump’s earlier claim that offshore wind destroys your neighborhood.
An illustration of the Arthur Kill Terminal warehouse is shown. (Source: Atlantic Offshore Terminals/Arthur Kill Terminal)Thanks to Atlantic Offshore Terminals/Arthur Kill Terminal
The Oceantic Network claims that 57% of the $6.1 billion invested in the offshore wind industry goes into manufacturing and supply chain projects, which primarily affect Republican congressional districts. Oceantic Network showed that the industry as a whole is valued at $14 billion.
It is about the lives of thousands of people on Staten Island, not politics. Democratic Committee Labor Chair Mohammed Karim Chowdhury stated that the Trump administration’s ego-driven defunding will harm Staten Islanders rather than generating limitless clean energy, establishing long-term union employment, and increasing tax revenues.
In order to ensure that the Arthur Kill Terminal project and the numerous jobs it promises to produce proceed, the committee urged Staten Islanders to support them and insist that Nicole Malliotakis take a strong stance against the president’s obvious overreach on this matter.
Late last week, Malliotakis was supposed to meet with the people who created the terminal.
Natalie Baldassarre, the congresswoman’s spokesperson, stated the following about the directive: This presidential order requires the incoming interior secretary to examine wind permitting procedures and halts the issuance of new permits and leases. The effect this will have on the Staten Island project is still unknown.
An illustration of the Arthur Kill Terminal’s AKT Cole House Visitor Center is shown. (Source: Atlantic Offshore Terminals/Arthur Kill Terminal)Thanks to Atlantic Offshore Terminals/Arthur Kill Terminal
Regarding the impact of Trump’s order on the project and the committee’s statement, Arthur Kill Terminal representatives chose not to comment at this time.
By the time of publication, Malliotakis had not responded to a request for comment regarding the remarks made by the Richmond County Democratic Committee.
Support from Elected Officials
The creation of the terminal has received strong support from most Staten Island government authorities, with Councilman Joseph Borelli (R-South Shore) spearheading the effort.
In 2024, State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton (D-North Shore/South Brooklyn), Assemblymember Charles Fall (D-North Shore), Assemblymember Sam Pirozzolo (R-Mid-Island), Assemblymember Mike Reilly (R-South Shore), and Assemblymember Michael Tannousis (R-East Shore/Brooklyn) all sent letters of support to Atlantic Offshore Terminals, the company that built the terminal.
Additionally, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) expressed his support, which aided in the terminal’s 2022 federal funding of $48 million.
When former President Joe Biden visited New York City in February 2023, he even shouted out the terminal, demonstrating that state and municipal support is insufficient.
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