Offshore

New York’s Empire Wind 1 offshore project receives key federal approval

New York’s Empire Wind 1 offshore project receives key federal approval
Empire Wind 1 (Credit: Equinor)

Equinor has announced that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has approved the Large Generator Interconnection Agreement (LGIA) executed between the company’s Empire Wind 1 project, New York ISO (NYISO), and Consolidated Edison Company of New York. The announcement marks the first FERC approval for any offshore wind project to connect directly to the New York City transmission system.  

FERC’s approval allows the Empire Wind 1 offshore wind project to connect through the Sunset Park Onshore Substation at South Brooklyn Marine Terminal (SBMT) into the New York City electrical grid at Con Edison’s Gowanus substation, delivering 810 MW of power.  

“The execution of the LGIA is a key milestone for Empire Wind and for New York City,” said Teddy Muhlfelder, vice president of Equinor Renewables Americas. “This federal approval marks the culmination of a years-long process under NYISO and is another important step in allowing Equinor to advance a project that will connect offshore renewable power to Brooklyn and into hundreds of thousands of New York homes.” 

Rendering of the Empire Wind 1 Sunset Park Onshore Substation at SBMT that will connect to Con Edison’s Gowanus Substation (Credit: Empire Wind)

The 73-acre South Brooklyn Marine Terminal will serve as the operations and maintenance (O&M) hub for Empire Wind 1 and will be the site of the project’s onshore substation. A low-emissions facility with solar power and EV charging stations installed onsite, 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. SBMT is being redeveloped alongside New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) and terminal operator Sustainable South Brooklyn Marine Terminal (SSBMT). SSBMT is a joint venture of Red Hook Terminals and Industry City. 

This announcement is the latest in a series from Empire Wind 1, which was selected as a provisional winner in New York’s fourth offshore wind solicitation (NY4) on February 29. The project also received approval of its federal Construction and Operations Plan from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management last month, and the New York Public Service Commission issued the project’s Article VII Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need in December 2023.  

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