Turbine installation cleared to begin for wind project off Long Island

The US Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) has completed its review of critical design and installation reports for the 130-MW South Fork wind project off Long Island, officially enabling offshore construction works.

The 60-day review concerned the project’s Facility Design and Fabrication and Installation reports. Its completion allows developers Ørsted A/S (CPH:ORSTED) and Eversource Energy (NYSE:ES) to kick off turbine installation in the Outer Continental Shelf, the agency said on Tue

To be located 35 miles (56.3km) east of Montauk Point and 19 miles southeast of Block Island, Rhode Island, South Fork is due to become operational this year. Its 11-MW Siemens Gamesa turbine generators will be capable of producing enough electricity for about 70,000 homes in New York. The 12-turbine project was selected in 2015 to deliver electricity to Long Island Power Authority and PSEG Long Island, a subsidiary of Public Service Enterprise Group.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) in January issued final approval for South Fork’s construction and operations plan (COP), two months after it cleared the scheme’s environmental plan.

Denmark's Ørsted and US utility Eversource, which are equal partners in this project, took a final investment decision (FID) in February.

Choose your newsletter by Renewables Now. Join for free!