Molly Morris, President,
Equinor Renewables Americas, issued the following statement regarding today’s
Record of Decision announcement by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
(BOEM).
“The federal Record
of Decision is a significant milestone in advancing Equinor and bp’s Empire
Wind project to help deliver on state and federal climate ambitions. Empire
Wind is a defining project for New York and we continue our work to connect
with communities and realise the project’s potential of providing reliable
renewable power, creating jobs and spurring economic development. We thank
the Biden-Harris Administration for continuing to move these important
projects forward and for sending a clear signal that offshore wind will
play an important role in America’s energy transition.”
Empire Wind
Empire Wind is
a 2.1 gigawatt (GW)offshore wind project that will bring renewable energy
to New York, contributing to its renewable energy development goals
and potentially creating new opportunities for economic growth in New York.
Empire Wind encompasses
two projects— Empire Wind 1 & 2— and will be developed in the ocean
waters approximately 15-30 miles south of Long Island. When completed,
Empire Wind’s 130+ total wind turbines will power according to the project
developers, over 1 million New York homes. First power is expected in the
mid-2020s. Empire Wind is part of a portfolio of offshore wind projects
providing renewable energy to New York, including Equinor’s Beacon Wind
1. Empire Wind is owned by Empire Offshore Wind LLC, a joint venture between
Equinor and bp. Equinor is the operating partner. The commercial lifespan
of Empire Wind is expected to be 35 years.