Construction of Brooklyn offshore wind hub could start this spring

Once built, the wind turbines will be shipped from Sunset Park to Long Island

February 23, 2024 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

Offshore wind turbines stand near Block Island, R.I. on Aug. 15, 2016. Photo: Michael Dwyer/AP, File

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SUNSET PARK — The federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management on Thursday approved the Construction and Operations Plan for Equinor’s Empire Wind project, marking another significant milestone in advancing an important New York offshore wind project that will help deliver renewable energy.

With this key permitting action by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management secured, Empire Wind is on track to begin construction on its offshore wind farm off the southern coast of Long Island later this year. Already advanced in planning and development, Empire Wind could deliver first power to New Yorkers by 2026.

In addition, construction to transform the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal on the Sunset Park waterfront into a major hub for offshore wind could begin as early as this spring. The South Brooklyn Marine Terminal is slated to house an assembly plant for wind turbines, which then would be shipped to the Empire Wind site off Long Island. Currently, the terminal is largely unused, but is home to the Sims Municipal Recycling facility.

“We are ready to get to work,” said Molly Morris, president of Equinor Renewables Americas. “Today’s COP approval follows years of rigorous review and collaboration with BOEM and other federal agencies. Equinor is grateful for a shared commitment to achieving state and federal offshore wind ambitions and Empire Wind is one step closer to delivering renewable power to hundreds of thousands of New York homes.”

An aerial rendering of what the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal will look like when the wind-turbine assembly facility is completed. Rendering courtesy of Equnior

First submitted in 2020, the Empire Wind proposal contains detailed plans for offshore and onshore construction and operations based on years of environmental reviews, input from outside experts and public feedback. The Bureau of Ocean Management’s announcement follows the November 2023 approval of Empire Wind’s federal Record of Decision.

Empire Wind has recently received several federal approvals. Last week, it received its Clean Air Act permit from the Environmental Protection Agency. Earlier this week, it received its approval from the NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service in accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

In December 2001, Equinor opened an office for its New York offshore wind project in Industry City, also on the Sunset Park waterfront. According to a statement issued by Equinor when it opened the office, “The office will also be home to an offshore wind learning center that will provide New Yorkers an opportunity to learn about this growing new industry.”

Components for turbines are shown in this rendering of the future wind-turbine assembly and staging area at the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal. Rendering courtesy of Equinor

The 73-acre South Brooklyn Marine Terminal – a historic home for New York City’s working waterfront – is set to transform into one of the nation’s largest dedicated port facilities for offshore wind in the U.S. and will support the staging and assembly of offshore wind turbine components for Empire Wind and the East Coast’s growing offshore wind industry.

A low-emissions facility with solar power and electric vehicle charging stations will be installed on site, and the port will provide onshore power and charging for the Empire Wind Service Operations Vessel, the first plug-in hybrid vessel for the U.S. offshore wind industry.

An article published in the Brooklyn Eagle in 2022 said the ship, described as a “plug-in, hybrid vessel,” will be able to transport up to 60 wind turbine technicians, and will go back and forth between its home port at the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal and the Long Island location. It will be capable of sailing on battery power for portions of its route.

Another Eagle story from 2022 described the Offshore Wind Ecosystem Fund, formed by Equinor, the New York City Economic Development Corp. and others. The fund, according to the article, is slated to provide grants that help spur job education and training, provide historically marginalized communities access to workforce and small business opportunities, and more.