Potentially the largest offshore wind farm in the US, Sunrise Wind, has been given the go-ahead by the BOEM (Bureau of Ocean Energy Management), clearing one of the obstacles to development.
Developers Ørsted and Eversource also said they had taken a Final Investment Decision on the Sunrise Wind project, which is designed to deliver 924MW to the state of New York.
They will now begin onshore construction activities, they said, as agreements to finalise the project with NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research and Development Authority) are negotiated.
“Offshore wind continues to soar in New York,” said US Senator Charles E. Schumer. “Today’s announcement that Sunrise Wind has flown through another critical milestone, combined with the recent announcement that South Fork Wind is officially online, shows that the sky is the limit for offshore wind.
“Sunrise Wind – built by the men and women in union labour – will change the energy landscape in New York. Supporting projects like Sunrise is exactly why I fought so hard to pass the Inflation Reduction Act last Congress, and I remain committed to working closely with New York and the Biden administration to uplift offshore wind.”
The wind farm will be situated 30 miles east of Montauk, New York State, and Is projected as having the capacity to power 900,000 homes.
“These milestones achieved by Ørsted and Eversource on the heels of South Fork Wind entering full operation demonstrate New York’s leadership in building the US offshore wind industry with Sunrise Wind and future projects on their way to generating clean wind energy to power the grid,” said Doreen M. Harris, president and CEO at NYSERDA.
Ørsted has agreed to buy Eversource’s 50% ownership share in Sunrise Wind, becoming the project’s sole owner, subject to signing of an OREC contract with NYSERDA, finalization of acquisition agreements, COP approval, and other relevant regulatory approvals.
Eversource will remain contracted to lead the project’s onshore construction.
