South Fork Wind is now the first commercial-scale, offshore wind energy project to start turbine construction in federal waters in the U.S.

The U.S Department of the Interior Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement has completed its review of critical design and installation data, enabling project partners Ørsted and Eversource to proceed with the 130 MW installation.

The project is located 35 miles east of Montauk Point on Long Island, New York, and will have an underground 138 kV AC transmission line that will deliver power to the local grid in the town of East Hampton, New York. South Fork Wind will supply the electricity needs of over 70,000 homes and businesses. Completion of the 12 offshore wind turbines on the outer continental shelf is planned for summer 2023.

The companies have also entered into agreements to charter five new offshore wind crew transfer vessels to be built at Senesco Marine and Blount Boats & Shipyard, both located in Rhode Island, to service the wind farms. In addition, they agreed to charter a service operations vessel that is under construction at Edison Chouest Offshore’s yard in Louisiana and due to enter service in 2024 to support maintenance operations.