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For Immediate Release: 12/14/2023 Rory M. Christian, Chief Executive Officer Contact:
James Denn | James.Denn@dps.ny.gov | (518) 474-7080
23130/21-T-0366 December 14, 2023
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PSC Approves Offshore Wind Transmission Line Project |
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17.5-Mile Power Line Will Connect Proposed Empire Wind 1 Offshore Wind Project to Brooklyn Substation
ALBANY — The New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) today adopted the terms of the joint proposal regarding Empire Offshore Wind LLC’s petition to construct and operate the New York offshore and onshore transmission facilities for the Empire Wind 1 Offshore Wind Project. “The development of offshore wind projects is an important part of the development of a clean-energy economy for New York State,” said Commission Chair Rory M. Christian. “The certificate conditions are adequate to protect the public interest and to ensure potential significant negative impacts of the project are avoided or minimized. The Commission is proud to support the growth of New York’s renewable electricity marketplace.” The joint proposal adopted today was signed by multiple stakeholders, including Empire Offshore Wind, Department of Public Service staff, the Department of Environmental Conservation, the Department of Agriculture and Markets, the Department of State, the City of New York and the Long Island Commercial Fishing Association. No parties opposed the terms of the joint proposal. Before construction can begin, the Commission must approve an environmental management and construction plan for the project. The joint proposal approved today calls for a project that runs approximately 17.5 miles of transmission lines from the boundary of New York State waters to a point of interconnection in Brooklyn, Kings County. Empire Offshore Wind 1 is an 816-megawatt wind project being developed by Equinor Wind US LLC. The project will produce enough clean, renewable energy for more than 388,000 homes. The transmission project includes two 230-kilovolt (kV) high-voltage alternating current (HVAC) submarine export cables within an approximately 15.1 nautical mile-long submarine export cable corridor, extending from the boundary of New York State waters (3 nautical miles from shore) to the cable landfall in Brooklyn; and a 0.2 mile-long onshore cable route and substation including two three-core 230-kV HVAC onshore export cables buried underground from the cable landfall either directly to the cable terminations or to transition vaults within the proposed onshore substation. In addition, there will be an onshore substation located at the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal that will increase the voltage to 345 kV for the onshore interconnection cables, and two 345-kV cable circuits, each with three single-core HVAC onshore interconnection cables, that will be buried underground from the onshore substation to the point of interconnection at the Gowanus 345-kV substation owned by the Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. New York State's Nation-Leading Climate Plan New York State's nation-leading climate agenda calls for an orderly and just transition that creates family-sustaining jobs, continues to foster a green economy across all sectors and ensures that at least 35 percent, with a goal of 40 percent, of the benefits of clean energy investments are directed to disadvantaged communities. Guided by some of the nation’s most aggressive climate and clean energy initiatives, New York is on a path to achieving a zero-emission electricity sector by 2040, including 70 percent renewable energy generation by 2030, and economywide carbon neutrality by mid-century. A cornerstone of this transition is New York's unprecedented clean energy investments, including more than $52 billion in 118 large-scale renewable and transmission projects across the state, $6.8 billion to reduce building emissions, $3.3 billion to scale up solar, nearly $3 billion for clean transportation initiatives, and over $2 billion in NY Green Bank commitments. These and other investments are supporting more than 165,000 jobs in New York’s clean energy sector in 2021 and over 3,000 percent growth in the distributed solar sector since 2011. To reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality, New York also adopted zero-emission vehicle regulations, including requiring all new passenger cars and light-duty trucks sold in the State be zero emission by 2035. Partnerships are continuing to advance New York’s climate action with nearly 400 registered and more than 100 certified Climate Smart Communities, nearly 500 Clean Energy Communities, and the State’s largest community air monitoring initiative in 10 disadvantaged communities across the state to help target air pollution and combat climate change. Today’s decision may be obtained by going to the Commission Documents section of the Commission’s Web site at www.dps.ny.gov and entering Case Number 21-T-0366 in the input box labeled "Search for Case/Matter Number". Many libraries offer free Internet access. Commission documents may also be obtained from the Commission’s Files Office, 14th floor, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12223 (518-474-2500). If you have difficulty understanding English, please call us at 1-800-342-3377 for free language assistance services regarding this press release. |
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