Orsted U.S. Offshore Wind, which together with Eversource Energy is developing the proposed 130-megawatt South Fork Wind Farm and the 880-megawatt Sunrise Wind, will be busy in 2020, a spokeswoman predicted last month.
The South Fork Wind Farm, to be situated approximately 35 miles off Montauk, is under review by federal, state, and local authorities, including the New York State Public Service Commission, which is at present hosting settlement negotiations among stakeholders with respect to the portion of the wind farm’s export cable that would lie in state waters and be buried from its landing site to a Long Island Power Authority substation in East Hampton.
Orsted U.S. Offshore Wind has identified the ocean beach at the end of Beach Lane in Wainscott as its preferred landfall site, a move that has stirred opposition in that hamlet.
Meaghan Wims, the spokeswoman, said that the developer expects the transmission cable route to be finalized in 2020 as part of the ongoing review. “Our team will continue to be active in the community to keep East Hampton and all stakeholders engaged and informed as the wind farm advances toward final approvals and construction,” she said on Dec. 20.
A busy 2020 is anticipated for development and construction planning related to the Sunrise Wind project, Ms. Wims said. In July, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced the awarding of a contract to Orsted/Eversource to develop that project adjacent to the South Fork Wind Farm, in the same federal lease area.
“We will work to advance our $11 million commitment for major port infrastructure upgrades across New York State,” she said, including a $10 million grant to establish a ports infrastructure development fund that is to ensure that ports are capable of serving as staging areas for the manufacture, construction, and transport of wind farm components.
“Our team will be active and continue our robust engagement with the Long Island community,” Ms. Wims said, “as the project advances toward final approvals and construction.”