NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Equinor today announced the opening of the New York offshore wind project office, located in Sunset Park’s Industry City neighborhood adjacent to the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal. The project office will serve as the hub for Equinor and bp’s large-scale offshore wind operations in the region, including Empire Wind and Beacon Wind. Together, Empire Wind 1 and 2 and Beacon Wind 1 are poised to provide 3.3 gigawatts of renewable power to New York, enough to power approximately 2 million homes. Empire Wind and Beacon Wind are being developed by Equinor and bp through their 50/50 strategic partnership in the US.
The opening of the project office marks a significant milestone in Equinor’s commitment to bringing an exciting new industry to the state and region that is set to last for decades. The event was attended by His Royal Highness, Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, and the Norwegian Minister of Trade and Industry Jan Christian Vestre. In addition, Doreen Harris, President and CEO of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), Elizabeth Yeampierre, Executive Director of UPROSE, Brooklyn's oldest Latino community-based organization and co-chair of the Climate Justice Alliance, Eden Chan, student at Macaulay Honors College and Shore Corps Leader for the Rockaway Initiative for Sustainability and Equity (RISE), and Phil Cochrane, Head of State Affairs & Third Party Advocacy, bp Americas, spoke at the event.
“We would not have achieved this exciting benchmark in the growth of our U.S. offshore wind initiative were it not for the support of New York State and the people in this community,” said Equinor Wind US President, Siri Espedal Kindem, who presided over today’s ribbon-cutting ceremony. “The office is the cornerstone for our vision of developing an exciting new industry in New York, in the United States, and beyond. Going forward, the success of this industry must not only be measured by the amount of renewable power it provides, but also by the impact it has in sparking fresh economic activity and creating enduring jobs. We are thrilled to be taking on this important work.”
Doreen M. Harris, President and CEO, NYSERDA said: “As New York solidifies its place as the nation’s leader in offshore wind, we are pleased to see Equinor affirming its commitment to our state and its workforce. Equinor’s investments and partnership are critical vehicles for advancing our climate and clean energy goals, and we look forward to continuing our shared efforts to seize this once in a generation opportunity to truly change the energy system and create thousands of family-sustaining jobs.”
The New York project office will support the development of Empire Wind and Beacon Wind. The office will also be home to an offshore wind learning center that will provide New Yorkers an opportunity to learn about this growing new industry. As the projects progress over the coming years, around 20 dedicated staff members will be based in the office. The office will be built out by a local New York contractor and is set to open for day-to-day operations in 2022.
ABOUT EQUINOR RENEWABLES US
Equinor is one of the largest offshore wind developers in the U.S., where it operates two lease areas, Empire Wind and Beacon Wind. The projects plan to provide New York State with 3.3 gigawatts (GWs) of energy—enough to power nearly two million homes—including more than 2 GWs from Empire Wind and 1,230 megawatts from Beacon Wind 1.
ABOUT EMPIRE WIND
Empire Wind will be a major contributor to meeting New York State’s ambitious clean energy and climate goals. When completed, Empire Wind will power more than 1 million New York homes. Empire Wind is located 15-30 miles southeast of Long Island and spans 80,000 acres, with water depths of between 65 and 131 feet. The lease was acquired in 2017 and is being developed in two phases (Empire Wind 1 and 2) with a total installed capacity of more than 2 GW (816 + 1,260 MW).
ABOUT BEACON WIND
Beacon Wind is planned for an area of 128,000 acres in federal waters between Cape Cod and Long Island. The lease area was acquired in 2019 and is being developed in two phases. Beacon Wind 1 is on track to deliver 1.2 GW of renewable energy directly to New York City in the late 2020s – enough to power 1 million homes. Beacon Wind 2 has the capacity to generate another 1.2 GW of clean energy for consumers in the US Northeast.