New York offshore wind project South Fork Wind has secured a decision from the Bureau of Ocean Management (BOEM), enabling it to proceed to the onshore construction phase in early 2022.
The Federal Record of Decision is a “key milestone” in the 132MW project’s development and South Fork Wind remains on track to be fully permitted by early 2022.
South Fork, being jointly developed by Orsted and Eversource, is expected to begin operations at the end of 2023.
The South Fork Wind team is now gearing up for site preparation work and the start of construction, beginning as early as January 2022, on the project’s underground transmission line.
Fabrication of the project’s offshore substation is already in process.
Orsted and Eversource recently announced the selection of Kiewit Offshore Services to design and build the substation for the project.
The 1500 tonne substation will be built at Kiewit’s facility in Ingleside, Texas, near Corpus Christi.
Offshore installation of the project’s monopile foundations and 11MW Siemens-Gamesa wind turbines is expected to begin in summer 2023.
BOEM’s issuance of the Record of Decision concludes the BOEM-led environmental review of the project.
It will be followed in January by the final approval of South Fork Wind’s Construction and Operations Plan (COP).
The COP outlines the project’s uniform one nautical mile turbine layout, the construction methodology for all work occurring in federal ocean waters, fishing industry compensation plan, and mitigation measures to protect species, such as North Atlantic Right Whales.
Governor Kathy Hochul said: “With today’s permitting milestone, South Fork Wind is set to be New York’s historic first offshore wind farm providing clean energy where it is needed most.
“Our nation-leading climate and offshore wind goals demand bold action and moving South Fork Wind forward brings us closer to a cleaner and greener future.”
Joe Nolan, CEO and president of Eversource Energy said: “We look forward to starting onshore construction soon and moving New York a significant step closer toward reaching its nation-leading clean energy goals.”
“Today’s announcement is a watershed moment for New York State,” said Doreen Harris, president and CEO, NYSERDA.
She added: “We are encouraged to see the federal government’s commitment to ensuring critical projects like South Fork Wind move ahead swiftly to tackle the existential threat of climate change while providing good paying jobs when our economy needs it most.”