The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) announced on Tuesday the finalization of contracts for Equinor's Empire Wind 1 and Orsted-Eversource's Sunrise Wind offshore wind projects.
Earlier in February, NYSERDA had awarded conditional contracts to purchase electricity from these proposed offshore wind projects as part of a program aimed at bolstering the struggling industry and advancing the state's ambitious clean energy objectives.
The Empire Wind 1 project, developed by Norway's Equinor, and the Sunrise Wind facility, a collaboration between Denmark's Orsted and U.S. power provider Eversource, were selected by the state to contribute to its renewable energy goals.
Equinor revealed its intention to seek a partner for its project to mitigate financial risks, signaling a strategic move in response to challenges faced by both Equinor and Orsted in their U.S. offshore wind ventures last year. These challenges were primarily attributed to escalating costs and disruptions in the supply chain.
The finalized contracts mark a significant step forward in New York's efforts to bolster its offshore wind sector and accelerate the transition to clean energy sources.
