South Fork Wind, New York’s first offshore wind farm received its Record of Decision (ROD) from the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), reaching a critical milestone in the federal environmental review.
South Fork Wind remains on track to be fully permitted by early 2022, and with the project’s joint venture partners Ørsted and Eversource ramping up construction activities soon after on the 132-MW offshore wind farm serving Long Island. The project will kickstart New York’s offshore wind industry and power approximately 70,000 New York homes with clean, offshore wind energy when it begins operations at the end of 2023.
“New York State is facing the challenges of climate change head-on, and we thank the Biden-Harris Administration for their steadfast support,” said Gov Kathy Hochul. “With today’s permitting milestone, South Fork Wind is set to be New York’s historic first offshore wind farm providing clean energy where it is needed most. Our nation-leading climate and offshore wind goals demand bold action and moving South Fork Wind forward brings us closer to a cleaner and greener future.”
The ROD concludes the BOEM-led environmental review of the project. It will be followed in January by the final approval of South Fork Wind’s Construction and Operations Plan (COP). The COP outlines the project’s uniform one nautical mile turbine layout, the construction methodology for all work occurring in federal ocean waters, fishing industry compensation plan, and mitigation measures to protect species, such as North Atlantic Right Whales.
Ørsted and Eversource will soon start construction on South Fork Wind, with onshore activities beginning as early as January 2022 on the project’s underground transmission line.
“With the achievement of this critical federal permitting milestone, construction of this historic wind farm is expected to begin in the weeks and months ahead,” said David Hardy, Chief Executive Officer of Ørsted Offshore North America. “South Fork Wind will not only boost the economy with family-sustaining jobs, but it will also help combat climate change and reduce air pollution as a clean energy resource for many Long Island residents.”
Fabrication of the project’s offshore substation is already in process. Ørsted and Eversource recently announced the selection of Kiewit Offshore Services, the largest offshore fabricator in the United States, to design and build the substation for the project.
The 1,500-ton, 60-ft substation will be built at Kiewit’s facility in Ingleside, Texas, near Corpus Christi. More than 350 workers across three states will support this South Fork Wind structure.
In addition, hundreds of union workers in the Northeast will support the South Fork Wind project and additional projects in the region.
Offshore installation of the project’s monopile foundations and 11-megawatt Siemens-Gamesa wind turbines is expected to begin in summer 2023.
South Fork Wind will be located about 35 miles east of Montauk Point. Its transmission system will deliver clean energy directly to the electric grid in East Hampton. Power needs on the South Fork are growing faster than anywhere else on Long Island.
In 2015, LIPA and PSEG Long Island issued a request for proposals to address this specific need and selected South Fork Wind because it was part of a portfolio that offers the most cost-effective solution to meet this demand, while at the same time increasing grid resiliency on the east end of Long Island.
“South Fork Wind is now on the cusp of making history as New York’s first offshore wind farm, delivering on the promise of clean energy, creating well-paying local jobs and helping combat the worst impacts of climate change,” said Joe Nolan, Chief Executive Officer and President of Eversource Energy. “We look forward to starting onshore construction soon and moving New York a significant step closer toward reaching its nation-leading clean energy goals.”
News item from South Fork Wind
Filed Under: News, Offshore wind, Projects
