Avid runner and Sierra Club volunteer Matt Kearns traversed Long Island on Saturday on the Wind 100 run. He successfully ran 90 miles from Montauk Point to Babylon, forced to stop due to medical reasons just short of the 100 mile goal. Matt’s run helped build unprecedented support for offshore wind power on Long Island by connecting two points with proposed projects, Montauk and Long Beach.
Matt arrived in Long Beach (via car) to a cheering crowd of family, friends and offshore wind supporters who waited until after 10pm to greet him at his final destination. Ahead of his arrival, more than 600 people attended the Wind 100 rally and concert on the Long Beach Boardwalk. Speakers included Mark Tannebaum, Executive Vice President Long Beach Chamber of Commerce, Long Beach City Councilwoman Eileen Goggin, Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg, Roger Clayman, Executive Director of the Long Island Federation of Labor, Catherine Bowes, Senior Manager for Climate and Energy at the National Wildlife Federation and Mary Anne Hitt, National Director of the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign.
Along the way, Matt received proclamations from the Village of Patchogue and Long Beach, presented by supportive elected officials cheering his efforts to help bring clean, renewable power to an area that knows well the impacts of worsening climate disruption.
“We’re all incredibly proud of Matt and everything he’s done to help bring offshore wind to Long Island. Now, it’s up to Governor Cuomo to get job-creating offshore wind across the finish line this year,” said Lisa Dix, Senior Campaign Representative of the Sierra Club.