BOEM grants final approval to Empire Wind project

BY: KELSEY TAMBORRINO | 02/22/2024 03:14 PM EST

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management issued its final approval Thursday for Equinor’s Empire Wind project — teeing up construction for the offshore wind effort off the coast of New York.

The project “represents a major milestone” in the Biden administration’s efforts to expand clean energy production and combat climate change, BOEM Director Elizabeth Klein said in a statement.

But it lands as the East Coast’s offshore wind plans have battled increasing costs and canceled projects, including in New York, where the dynamics have put the state’s climate goals at risk.