Offshore Wind Projects in the New York Bight

Aligning with New York’s 10-Point Action Plan, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) continues to demonstrate its commitment to the transition to clean energy on a local, regional, and national scale through its offshore wind contracted projects. Since 2018, awarded contracts to lease holders in the vicinity of the New York Bight include the following projects:

ProjectDeveloperLease NumberCapacityExpected CODInfromation for Mariners
South Fork Wind*Ørsted and EversourceOCS-A 05171322024South Fork Wind Construction Archive
Sunrise WindØrsted and EversourceOCS-A 04879242026Resources for Local Mariners
Atlantic Shores South Project 1 & 2Atlantic ShoresOCS-A 0499 & OCS-A 05702,8002028 (Project 1)Mariners – Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind (atlanticshoreswind.com)
Empire Wind 1 & 2EquinorOCS-A 05122,1002027 & 2029Mariners And Fisheries Information
Atlantic Shores NorthAtlantic ShoresOCS-A 05492,3552028Mariners – Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind (atlanticshoreswind.com)
Beacon Wind (BW1 & BW2)bpOCS-A 0520BW1- 1,230, BW2- 1,3602029Fisheries Communication Plan
Attentive Energy OneTotalEnergies, Rise Light & Power, and CorioOCS-A 05383,0002029Marine Activity + Offshore Operations for Fishermen and Mariners
Community Offshore WindRWE and National GridOCS-A 05393,0002030Fisheries and Resources for Fishermen and Mariners
Excelsior Wind/Vineyard Mid-AtlanticVineyard OffshoreOCS-A 05441,3002030Fisheries and Mariners
Leading Light WindInvenergy and energyReOCS-A 05422,0002030Leading Light Wind For Mariners
New England Wind 1 & 2Vineyard OffshoreOCS-A 0534 & OCS-A 05611,20020310522 Fisheries (vineyardoffshore.com)
Atlantic Shores BightAtlantic ShoresOCS-A 05411,500Not AvailableMariners – Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind (atlanticshoreswind.com)
Bluepoint WindOcean WindsOCS-A 05372,400Not AvailableInformation for Mariners – Bluepoint Wind
*South Fork Wind Farm was awarded a contract by the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) in 2017.
Source: NYSERDA

How are projects in New York contracted? Offshore wind projects are contracted first by undergoing State-wide solicitations, which are calls for proposals from offshore wind developers to deliver offshore wind energy to New York State. Competitively selected projects will enter into contracts to sell Offshore Wind Renewable Energy Certificates (ORECs) to NYSERDA on behalf of New York’s electricity ratepayers statewide. Among other requirements, to be eligible to bid projects, offshore wind developers must first secure a federal offshore lease as well as commit to deliver power to New York’s electrical grid.

What are ORECs? ORECs represent the positive environmental attributes associated with one megawatt-hour (MWh) of electricity generated from offshore wind resources and consumed by retail customers in the State. ORECs represent an important source of revenue to enable renewable energy development from offshore wind, recognizing that New York’s electricity markets do not directly value the environmental attributes associated with clean electricity generation. As part of NYSERDA’s contracts with offshore wind developers, NYSERDA will purchase ORECs from project developers as renewable energy is delivered to New York’s electricity grid. The proposed price of the OREC is an important consideration when evaluating bids from developers. NYSERDA will sell ORECs to utilities and other load serving entities (LSEs), who are required to purchase clean energy credits in order to meet the State’s goals – that 70 percent of our electricity be produced by renewable sources by 2030 and that the electricity system must be 100 percent zero-emissions by 2040.

For more information on contracted projects in New York, please visit New York’s Offshore Wind Projects – NYSERDA or visit the above links in the table.