Offshore wind staging site breaks ground in Brooklyn

Equinor today broke ground on construction at the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal (SBMT), kicking off the revitalization of the venerable port facility into a hub for offshore wind on the East Coast and a critical contributor to New York’s renewable energy ambitions.

(From left to Right) Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer, NYSERDA President and CEO Doreen Harris, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, President of Equinor Renewables Americas Molly Morris, Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10), President and CEO of NYCEDC Andrew Kimball, Executive Director of UPROSE Elizabeth Yeampierre

SBMT will support Equinor’s first U.S. offshore wind project, Empire Wind 1, while placing Sunset Park and New York City at the heart of the renewable energy industry for decades to come. When completed, the facility will be one of the largest dedicated offshore wind hubs in the United States, designed to accommodate future offshore wind projects.

“Today’s groundbreaking at the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal is a defining moment for Empire Wind 1 and for the long-term renewable energy ambitions of New York State and beyond,” said Molly Morris, President of Equinor Renewables Americas. “We are proud to restore this historic working waterfront in Brooklyn and grateful for the shared commitment to offshore wind shown by this community and by city, state, and federal leaders who made this milestone possible. This construction will result in union jobs and local economic benefits while supporting a project that will deliver homegrown power to New Yorkers and position the state as a leader in the advancing offshore wind industry.”

The 73-acre construction project will create a staging and pre-assembly site for the turbine components of Empire Wind 1 and will include an onshore substation to connect 810 MW of wind power to the Gowanus substation, making Empire Wind 1 the first offshore wind project to connect directly into the New York City grid.

SBMT will also be home to Empire Wind 1’s long-term Operations & Maintenance Base, which includes a control room that measures turbine data and monitors the project around-the-clock. SBMT is being developed as a low-emissions facility, with solar power and EV charging stations installed onsite.

SBMT is being redeveloped together with New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) and terminal operator Sustainable South Brooklyn Marine Terminal (SSBMT). SSBMT is a joint venture of Red Hook Terminals and Industry City.

The 54-turbine Empire Wind project will provide enough reliable, renewable energy for 500,000 New York homes, with a target to deliver first power in late 2026.

News item from Equinor

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