Equinor’s Empire Wind Project Gets COP Approval From BOEM in US

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Equinor’s Empire Wind announced that its offshore wind project has received approval from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) for the Construction and Operations Plan in the US. The company said it is another significant milestone in advancing an important New York offshore wind project that will help deliver on both state and federal renewable energy ambitions.

Empire Wind is located 15-30 miles southeast of Long Island and spans 80,000 acres, with water depths of between approximately 75 and 135 feet. The lease was acquired in 2017. The project’s two phases, Empire Wind 1 and 2, have a potential capacity of more than 2 GW (810 + 1,260 MW), enough to power over 1 million New York homes.

According to media state from Equinor, this key permit by BOEM has led the wind project to be on track to begin construction in its federal lease area off the southern coast of Long Island later this year. Already well advanced in planning and development, Empire Wind 1 could deliver the first power to New Yorkers by 2026, according to Equinor’s Empire Wind. In addition, construction to transform the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal into a major hub for offshore wind could begin as early as this spring, the statement further added.

“We are ready to get to work,” said Molly Morris, President of Equinor Renewables Americas. She also added, “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.”

First submitted in 2020, the Empire Wind COP authorizes detailed plans for offshore and onshore construction and operations based on years of environmental reviews, input from outside experts, and extensive public feedback. BOEM’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 approval from the NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service for the Marine Mammal Protection Act.    Empire Wind 1 is currently bidding on New York’s fourth offshore wind solicitation.