Excelsior Wind

Why is offshore wind energy needed?

After many years of flat electricity usage, considerable growth in electricity demand is expected from things like data centers, artificial intelligence, electric heating, and electric vehicles. Offshore wind is an abundant source of energy to meet this growing demand, close to coastal population centers that need additional power. Offshore wind offers public health benefits in the form of cleaner air and no greenhouse gas emissions, helping New York meet both its energy and environmental goals. Offshore wind projects also create local jobs, engage local businesses, and boost the economy.

How does offshore wind work?

Wind energy refers to the generation of electricity through wind turbines installed in bodies of water; in the case of Excelsior Wind, in the Atlantic Ocean. The turbine blades are turned by the wind, generating electricity. The electricity is then transmitted onshore via transmission cables which run beneath the seabed until they reach land, where they continue underground until the power reaches the point of interconnection at a substation. At the final substation, the electricity feeds into the power grid and is distributed to communities by local utilities.

How does offshore wind get developed?

There are several steps in the development and construction of an offshore wind project. The process is specific to each state. For New York, the process is as follows:

A developer acquires a lease for seabed from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) which is part of the U.S. Department of the Interior. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) issues a Request for Proposals (RFP) for offshore wind capacity, and the developer submits its proposal for a project. NYSERDA selects the project through a competitive process and signs a Purchase and Sales Agreement with the developer. The selected project undergoes federal and state permitting, followed by construction onshore then offshore, and finally has a period of operation and maintenance delivering power to New York customers.

Where in the ocean will the Excelsior Wind project be located?

Excelsior Wind will be located approximately 24 miles south of Fire Island, NY, and 31 miles south of Jones Beach, NY. It will be built in Outer Continental Shelf lease area 0544 (OCS-A 0544). Vineyard Offshore won the area in a competitive process administered by the Bureau of Ocean EnergyManagement (BOEM), a federal agency under the United States Department of the Interior.  

What is the timeline for Excelsior Wind?

Currently the project is in the permitting and development phase, which is estimated to last approximately 5 years. Construction is estimated to take 3-4 years, and operations & maintenance 20+ years depending on the lifetime of contracts.

What are the phases of permitting?

Each offshore wind project goes through two levels of permitting – federal and state.

The federal one is overseen by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM). This permitting process focuses on a Construction andOperations Plan (COP). The Construction and Operations Plan (COP) is a robust, comprehensive document produced by the offshore wind developer for review by BOEM. The COP is a critical component of BOEM’s regulatory process, which ensures that offshore wind projects are developed in an environmentally responsible and economically and technologically viable manner. It addresses the potential impacts of construction and operation on marine ecosystems, fisheries, cultural resources, among many other resources, as well as environmental justice communities. The COP provides a comprehensive plan that describes all activities, facilities, and environmental mitigation measures to inform various federal laws and processes, including the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)and the Endangered Species Act. BOEM approves, approves with modification, or disapproves the COP following the NEPA Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), after which engineering is finalized and offshore construction can begin.

Additionally, there is also a state permitting process in New York, currently called Article 7, through the Department of Public Service, which governs the onshore transmission construction as well as everything within the 3 miles of New York waters.

What is an Article 7 permit?

The Article 7 process ensures that offshore wind energy transmission projects in New York are developed in a manner that is environmentally responsible, economically beneficial, and socially acceptable, while providing the necessary infrastructure to move the energy from the ocean to our communities. Though designed for transmission, the Article 7 process plays a crucial role in offshore wind development by ensuring that the necessary grid connections are legally and environmentally sound. To learn more about the Article 7 permitting process, please visit the Department of Public Service.

What are the economic benefits of Excelsior Wind?

The Excelsior Wind project will create $2.6B in direct economic benefits to NY; $6B in indirect, direct, and induced benefits to NY;2000+ jobs, including family-sustaining union jobs; $578 million spent in Disadvantaged Communities; and $50 million for workforce, supply chain, labor, fisheries, and other community-driven initiatives.

Local small businesses will also have the chance to benefit from participating in the project. From personal protective equipment (PPE) to lunch, Vineyard Offshore is committed to looking local first to meet the needs of Excelsior Wind. To see how we’ve worked with local businesses in our Vineyard Wind 1 project, see here. If you’d like to explore career pathways in the industry, please visit: oswlongisland.com

How are you protecting marine mammals?

Through the federal and state permitting processes, offshore wind developers are required to take numerous steps to protect marine mammals. In our Vineyard Wind 1 project, which is subject to more than 3,000 specific permit conditions, we are required to suspend pile-driving operations during North American right whale migration season, employ Protected Species Observers with the power to shut down operations if they detect the presence of marine mammals, observe as mandatory vessel-speed restrictions which are voluntary for other maritime industries, and implement extensive noise reduction measures. To read more about our efforts with marine mammals, please see our case study here.