BP, Equinor in Bid to Build Offshore Wind Facility in NY

ALBANY, N.Y. — BP and partner Equinor have jointly entered a bid in New York’s third offshore wind solicitation, vying to provide the state with renewable energy from the Beacon Wind 2 lease area located roughly 60 miles off the eastern end of Long Island.

The bid was submitted to the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority last week.

According to the submitted documents, Beacon Wind 2 will be capable of producing 1,360 MW of offshore wind energy, enough to power an estimated 1 million homes.

BP and Equinor estimate that the project will generate more than $11 billion in new economic activity over its life and create thousands of jobs.

Power from Beacon Wind 2 would complement the 3.3 GW of potential offshore wind general capacity already under development by the two companies in the area, Empire Wind 1 and 2 and Beacon Wind 1.

“This bid is another example of BP and Equinor in action to produce cleaner energy and help states meet their offshore wind goals,” said BP Senior Vice President of Offshore Wind Matthias Bausenwein in a written statement. “We’re already progressing 3.3 GWs of planned offshore wind projects for New Yorkers. Our Beacon Wind 2 bid would allow us to produce even more renewable energy for the state while further investing in its economy, workforce and manufacturing sector.

“BP and Equinor have the skills, resources and experience to deliver on this vision. Together with the state, we can produce the energy New Yorkers need in the way they want it,” Bausenwein added.

Beacon Wind recently purchased the site of the Astoria Gas Turbines, with the potential to bring offshore wind from Beacon Wind 1 and Beacon Wind 2 directly to New York City, transforming the site into the Astoria Gateway for Renewable Energy, giving Queens a leading role in the state’s energy transition.

Equinor and BP’s proposal includes new manufacturing plants capable of creating what the partners described as “game-changing” renewable energy career opportunities in the state’s Capital Region, establishing a new vision for the creation of a manufacturing hub in the region.

The proposal includes a facility to produce cable components for offshore wind projects both locally and around the world. 

Additionally, working with offshore wind turbine manufacturers, Equinor and BP propose to support the establishment of state-of-the-art facilities to manufacture wind turbine components, such as blades and nacelles, in New York state. 

These new manufacturing and supply chain initiatives build on the companies’ current investments in New York’s supply chain, solidifying the state’s leadership position in developing a homegrown offshore wind industry, the companies said in a joint release.

“Equinor and BP are eager to build on the significant experience gained through our work in New York over the past five years to bring more offshore wind energy to the state,” said Molly Morris, president, Equinor Wind US, in the same release. 

“The commitments and opportunities that we have outlined in this bid are informed by our team’s ongoing efforts to develop offshore wind for the state,” Morris continued. “Our deep understanding of the workers, communities and economic opportunities related to this new industry allows us to invest in New York where it matters most.

“There is a tremendous opportunity here to harness the project maturity, efficiencies and knowledge related to our current work, and we welcome the chance to deepen our work with New York to bring these exciting new initiatives to bear and help the state reach the next level of its renewable energy goals,” she said.

Dan can be reached at [email protected] and @DanMcCue