The Albany Port District Commission (APDC) has chosen Gilbane Building Company to be the construction manager for a top-notch wind tower manufacturing plant at the Port of Albany in Bethlehem, New York. 

The first of its type in the United States, the new manufacturing hub will aid New York State’s transition to a clean energy economy.

The complete plan includes the building of manufacturing facilities totaling around 605,000 square feet on approximately 85 acres at the Port of Albany-Rensselaer. In addition, to support from federal, state, and private sources for infrastructure and economic development, the project is a public-private partnership.

Over 400 acres on both the Albany and Rensselaer sides of the Hudson River make up the year-round, 24-hours facility of the port. Albany’s port has been in operation for almost 90 years. Over 5,000 people are employed directly and indirectly in the port, which has an estimated annual impact of over $800 million on upstate New York.

“Gilbane is proud to support New York’s efforts to build a clean energy future,” said Keith Leal, Vice President & Upstate New York Business Unit Leader. 

He adds, “This new manufacturing hub is a critical investment and will drive opportunity and growth for the Capitol region and beyond. We look forward to working with the Port of Albany, the State of New York, and our trade partners to maximize diverse business and workforce participation and to deliver this transformational project.”

The $357 million wind tower manufacturing facility is on target to provide employment and reinvigorate the area, according to Georgette Steffens, chair of the Albany Port District Commission.

Congressman Paul Tonko and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York visited the port earlier this month to promote their Restoring Offshore Wind Opportunities Act. The Democrats’ bill would lift a Trump-era ban on new offshore wind licenses. According to Gillibrand, the bill will help the port project in Albany, which is receiving $30 million in federal funding.

“The construction of the Wind Tower Manufacturing Facility at the Port of Albany is a critical project for our region,” said Richard Hendrick, Port of Albany CEO. 

“The project will generate much-needed economic development and provide an opportunity and strengthen our neighborhoods by ensuring equity in minority, women and service-disabled veteran-owned business opportunities. We look forward to seeing substantial growth in the number of contracts awarded to our local certified firms and creating peer mentorship programming to enhance the network of qualified MWBE suppliers.”

This will be the first manufacturing center for offshore wind towers in the US and is being heralded by the New York State Energy Research And Development Authority (NYSERDA) as a groundbreaking endeavor. 

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