Wind energy – U.S.A.
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) today announced a Record of Decision (ROD) for the South Fork Wind project to begin construction off the coast of New York.
South Fork Wind is the second commercial-scale offshore wind project in U.S. waters to complete BOEM review.
This follows the final approval of the 800 MW Vineyard Wind project earlier this year. The advancement of both projects, along with other efforts that BOEM has undertaken to create more transparency and predictability in the permitting and leasing processes, fosters long-term market certainty in the U.S. and moves the country towards achieving the Administration’s goal of deploying 30 GW by 2030.
The Record of Decision marks the completion of the BOEM-led environmental review of the project, intended to ensure offshore wind projects in U.S. federal waters are installed in an environmentally responsible manner. Final approval of the South Fork Wind Construction and Operations Plan (COP) is expected in January 2022. The South Fork Wind project consists of up to 15 turbines located in a BOEM lease area approximately 35 miles east of Montauk Point, New York.
The project will be 132 MWs in size – enough to power approximately 70,000 New York homes while creating hundreds of local jobs. The South Fork Wind project is expected to begin construction in 2022 and is already driving supply chain development, including the first U.S. offshore substation and first Service Operations Vessel (SOV) constructed in the U.S., which is creating well-paying jobs in Texas, Louisiana, and New York, as well as several inland states.
Liz Burdock, president and CEO of the Network said: “In just six months, the U.S. offshore wind industry has seen the approval of two large-scale wind power projects, and momentum is gaining. Last week, Vineyard Wind held its groundbreaking ceremony, and this week, the South Fork Wind announcement enhances investor trust in the certainty of the U.S. offshore wind market. This is critical to capturing local economic benefits associated with the offshore wind industry. The issuance of the South Fork Wind Record of Decision, and forthcoming expected final approval in January 2022, creates a highly visible development pipeline that will lead to the project’s financial close and trigger investments in the U.S. domestic offshore wind supply chain.”
