BOEM completes environmental review of Empire Wind projects
The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has finished its environmental review of the proposed Empire Wind Farm projects located off the coast of Long Island, N.Y.
Empire Wind proposes to construct two offshore facilities — Empire Wind 1 and Empire Wind 2 — in its lease area located about 12 nautical miles (nm) south of Long Island and roughly 16.9 nm east of Long Branch, N.J. The two projects will be electrically isolated and independent from each other.
The company proposes to construct up to 57 wind turbines for Empire Wind 1 and up to 90 wind turbines for Empire Wind 2. Also, up to two offshore substations with two cable routes connecting to the onshore electrical grid on Long Island will be built. Together, the projects are expected to generate up to 2,076-megawatts of renewable energy. BOEM estimates that they could power more than 700,000 homes.
“BOEM is doing its part to meet the Administration’s ambitious energy goals – while remaining diligent in our efforts to avoid, minimize, and mitigate impacts to ocean users and the marine environment,” BOEM Director Elizabeth Klein said. “We value the feedback we have received from Tribal Nations, local community members, commercial fishing interests, and other ocean users in our process.”
The final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) analyzes the potential environmental impacts of the activities laid out in Empire Wind’s Construction and Operations Plan. The final EIS is available on BOEM’s website. The analysis includes 180 comments from Tribal Nations; Federal, state, and local government agencies; non-governmental organizations; and the public during the comment period.
The American Clean Power Association (ACP) is pleased with the progress of the Empire Wind projects.
“Empire Wind’s two phases will send more than two gigawatts (GW) of clean, reliable, and homegrown wind energy directly into the largest metropolitan area in the U.S. and will power a million New York homes,” Josh Kaplowitz, vice president for offshore wind at ACP, said. “The Empire Wind projects will help grow a domestic offshore wind supply chain through domestic investment that will create thousands of good-paying American jobs and spearhead the revitalization of the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal.”
BOEM plans to issue a record of decision on whether to approve the project, and if so, identify conditions of approval, this fall.
