New York’s South Brooklyn Marine Terminal Begins Transformation into Offshore Wind Hub

Equinor has officially broken ground on the transformation of the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal (SBMT) into a central hub for offshore wind energy on the East Coast, marking a significant step forward in New York’s pursuit of renewable energy targets.

The groundbreaking ceremony, held Tuesday, was graced by New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Congressman Dan Goldman, NYSERDA CEO Doreen Harris, UPROSE Executive Director Elizabeth Yeampierre, and Equinor Renewables Americas President Molly Morris.

The project positions Sunset Park and New York City at the epicenter of the renewable energy industry. Upon completion, SBMT is set to be one of the largest offshore wind hubs in the U.S., built to support future offshore wind projects starting with Equinor’s Empire Wind 1 project.

“This groundbreaking event at the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal marks a pivotal moment for Empire Wind 1 and the long-term renewable energy goals of New York State and beyond,” said Molly Morris.

The Empire Wind project, consisting of 54 turbines, aims to provide renewable energy for 500,000 New York homes, with a target to deliver first power in late 2026.

The 73-acre construction project will serve as a staging and pre-assembly site for Empire Wind 1’s turbine components and will feature an onshore substation connecting the wind farm directly to the New York City grid.

In addition to being Empire Wind 1’s long-term Operations & Maintenance Base, SBMT is being developed as a low-emissions facility, equipped with solar power and EV charging stations.

The redevelopment of SBMT is a collaborative effort between the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) and Sustainable South Brooklyn Marine Terminal (SSBMT), a joint venture of Red Hook Terminals and Industry City.

In other developments, Empire Wind 1’s federal Construction and Operations Plan was approved by the U.S. Department of Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management in November 2023. Earlier this year, Empire Wind 1 announced a Project Labor Agreement promising over 1,000 union jobs in Brooklyn, and the New York State Public Service Commission granted final approval for construction at SBMT in May.

Last week saw Equinor and NYSERDA finalize an offtake agreement for the renewable energy produced by the project. The Purchase and Sale Agreement (PSA) comes with a strike price of $155.00 per MW/h, which Equinor described as within the guided range for renewable projects.

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