Offshore staff
WASHINGTON, DC – The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has approved Equinor’s Empire Wind Construction and Operations Plan (COP).
This represents the project’s final approval from BOEM, following the agency’s Record of Decision last November approving the development.
The sanctioned plan includes construction and operation of Empire Wind 1 and Empire Wind 2 over a lease area around 12 nautical mi (nm) south of Long Island, N.Y., and 16.9 nm east of Long Branch, N.J, in water depths ranging from 75-135 ft.
Total planned capacity is 2,076 MW.
“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.”
Last week, the project received its Clean Air Act permit from the Environmental Protection Agency. Earlier this week, it secured approval from the NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service in accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
Empire Wind 1 is currently bidding into New York’s fourth offshore wind solicitation.
02.23.2024
