The New York City Public Design Commission (PDC) has approved Equinor’s design for the offshore wind operations and maintenance building to be constructed at the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal (SBMT). The approval from the PDC allows for advancement of New York’s first-ever purpose-built offshore wind operations and maintenance facility, marking an important step in revitalizing a working waterfront at this historic port. SBMT is on track to become a cutting-edge staging facility for the Empire Wind 1 project, which is posed to deliver 810 MW of renewable power to New York. Construction at the port is expected to begin this spring. 

Equinor conducted significant community engagement during the design process to solicit input and ensure that public feedback was reflected in the final design. SBMT’s revitalization aims to increase diversity in waterfront construction by opening doors for minority- and women-owned business enterprises to create the green jobs of the future.  

In 2022, Equinor and bp, in partnership with the NYCEDC and the Sunset Park Task Force, created the Offshore Wind Ecosystem Fund, a $5 million clean energy community grant program designed to support sustainable growth, workforce development, empowerment of underserved communities, and climate justice in New York City’s emerging offshore wind ecosystem. 

“The approval of the design for our operations and maintenance building at SBMT is a significant milestone in the transformation of SBMT into a hub for offshore wind and a staging area for our projects,” said Teddy Muhlfelder, Vice President for Equinor Renewables Americas. “Our project team worked with City officials and community leaders for over two years to incorporate their input and arrive at a building design that reflects our commitment to partnering with New York City and the Sunset Park community. We are excited to move forward with our efforts to revitalize this port, create new jobs, and help boost the local economy while connecting New Yorkers to a reliable, long-term source of renewable energy.” 

“This approval marks another step forward in New York City’s work to revitalize our waterfront infrastructure, build a clean energy future, and create skilled jobs for New Yorkers,” said New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) Chief Operating Officer Melissa Román Burch. “The NYCEDC is dedicated to working with our partners to transform the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal (SBMT) into one of the largest offshore wind port facilities in the nation, and pave the way for meaningful job creation in the clean energy sector.”

About SBMT

The 73-acre South Brooklyn Marine Terminal – a historic home for New York City’s working waterfront – is set to transform into one of the nation’s largest dedicated port facilities for offshore wind in the U.S. and will support the staging and assembly of offshore wind turbine components for Empire Wind and the East Coast’s growing offshore wind industry.   

SBMT will serve as the operations and maintenance (O&M) hub for Empire Wind 1 and will be the site of the project’s onshore substation. A low-emissions facility with solar power and EV charging stations installed onsite, the port will provide onshore power and charging for the Empire Wind Service Operations Vessel, the first plug-in hybrid vessel for the U.S. offshore wind industry. 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. 

About Empire Wind  

Empire Wind is being developed by Equinor, a leading energy company with more than 20 years of experience with offshore wind and an already strong offshore wind portfolio with assets in key markets including the UK, Poland, Germany and South Korea. 

Empire Wind is located 15-30 miles southeast of Long Island and spans 80,000 acres, with water depths of between approximately 75 and 135 feet. The lease was acquired in 2017. The project’s two phases, Empire Wind 1 and 2, have a potential capacity of more than 2 GW (810 + 1,260 MW), enough to power over 1 million New York homes. www.empirewind.com