BOEM seeks public comment for proposed wind energy project offshore New York

The Bureau of Ocean Energy and Management (BOEM) has announced the availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the proposed 2,076MW Empire Wind energy project offshore New York.

 

Empire Offshore Wind submitted a Construction and Operation Plan (COP) for its proposal to develop two wind energy facilities and their associated export cables offshore New York, known as Empire Wind 1 and Empire Wind 2. The proposal includes up to 147 offshore wind turbine generators, two offshore substations, two offshore electrical cable routes, up to three export cable landfall sites, up to three onshore electrical cable routes, and two onshore substations, providing connection to the existing electrical grid in Brooklyn and Long Beach, New York. The DEIS analyses the potential environmental impacts of the project as described in the COP and several alternatives to the proposed action. BOEM will use the findings of the EIS to inform its decision on whether to approve Empire Wind’s COP, and if so, which mitigation measures to require.

 

During the comment period, BOEM will hold three virtual public meetings, where the public can learn more about the review process, the EIS schedule, potential impacts from the proposed project, and proposals to reduce potential impacts. There will also be an opportunity for participants to provide comments on the DEIS. The public meetings will be held on the following dates and times. All times are Eastern:

 

A virtual meeting room will be on BOEM’s website starting on Nov. 18, 2022. It will be available throughout the 60-day comment period and will include information about the DEIS, as well as how to register for the virtual public meetings and provide comments.