The 924 MW Sunrise Wind offshore wind farm, the country’s sixth commercial-scale offshore project, has received approval from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) of the US Department of the Interior.
The project’s creators, Ørsted, a Danish energy business, and Eversource, a utility provider, have also made their final investment decision.
Ørsted group executive vice-president and Americas CEO David Hardy stated: “New York is already home to the trailblazing South Fork Wind project, and with Sunrise Wind we will build on that foundation, broadening the economic benefits of offshore wind while delivering far more clean renewable power.
“With the federal Record of Decision in hand and our final investment decision made, we can continue to create hundreds of local union jobs and stand up a vibrant supply chain.
We thank the Biden Administration, our state partners and the congressional delegation for their continued leadership to advance this important project.”
Sunrise Wind, which would supply electricity to 600,000 houses in New York, is situated 30 miles east of Montauk and 16.4 nautical miles (30 km) south of Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts.
The project was approved after lengthy discussions with the public, stakeholders, and government partners.
An alternate project layout with fewer turbines than originally suggested was approved by the BOEM.
This modification maintains the project’s geotechnical viability, lessens its effects on the marine environment, and complies with New York, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island’s energy needs.
US President Joe Biden’s national climate advisor, Ali Zaidi, stated: “Today’s offshore wind project approval, the seventh under President Biden’s leadership, continues a surge of momentum that the Biden-Harris administration is delivering for the American offshore wind industry and workers and communities across the country.”
By 2026, Sunrise Wind will be up and running, bringing $700 million to Suffolk County and generating thousands of indirect jobs throughout New York State in addition to 800 direct jobs.
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority has agreements in place for offshore wind renewable energy certificates, and New York State and Sunrise Wind have a 25-year contract in place for the provision of clean energy.
Source Ørsted.
