Governor Kathy Hochul has announced that the New York State Public Service Commission has granted Equinor’s Empire Offshore Wind its final approval, authorising the project to begin construction on the 810MW offshore wind farm.
The Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) issued today authorised the construction and operation of transmission facilities for the delivery of electricity into New York from the project.
The approved transmission facilities that will be located within New York’s jurisdiction include two 230 kilovolt (kV) alternating current submarine transmission cables extending from the boundary of New York State waters (three nautical miles from shore) to the cable landfall in Brooklyn.
They also include a 0.2 mile-long onshore cable route including two 230 kV alternating current transmission cables buried underground connecting to an onshore substation and an onshore substation located at the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal that will increase the voltage to 345 kV.
There will also be two 345 kV alternating current onshore transmission cables buried underground from the onshore substation to a Point of Interconnection with Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc.’s existing Gowanus 345 kV substation in Brooklyn.
Governor Hochul said: “I have made a commitment to have New York become a place for renewable energy to grow and flourish, and today are delivering on that promise.
“Offshore wind is a critically important part of our fight against climate change, and today’s decision will help move forward a zero-emissions electric grid that will provide long-term benefits to all New Yorkers.”
President of Equinor Renewables Americas, Molly Morris, said: “The approval by the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) of the Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity is another important step for the development of the Empire Wind 1 project.
“With this authorization in place, combined with other federal, state and local authorizations, critical construction can begin in Brooklyn that will help connect the 810MW of renewable energy produced by Empire Wind 1 to the New York City grid. Equinor appreciates the leadership of Governor Hochul and the work of the PSC as we proceed into this exciting new phase of the project.”