Ocean Winds Names 1.7 GW New York Bight Offshore Wind Project

Bluepoint Wind is the official name of the offshore wind project that Ocean Winds East (OW East) plans to build in the New York Bight, the developer announced on 15 September.

Ocean Winds East, a joint venture between EDP Renewables and Engie, won the lease area in Central Bight for USD 765 million this February in what was the biggest offshore wind auction ever organised in the US.

Bluepoint Wind is a partnership between Ocean Winds and New York-based independent infrastructure fund manager Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP). 

The project site is located 38 nautical miles off the coast of New York and 53 nautical miles off the coast of New Jersey and will be able to power up to 900,000 homes.

With a generation capacity of up to 1.7 GW, Bluepoint Wind could help avoid an estimated 5 million tonnes of CO2.

The developers will now begin conducting a stakeholder and public engagement process as part of the ramping up of planning and permitting efforts. The process will emphasise Bluepoint Wind’s commitment to responsible development, environmental protection, safety, social equity, economic development and building long-term relationships with neighbouring communities, according to the partners.

“Since February, we have focused on a strategy that will help us create not only a safe and innovative renewable energy project for the region, but also deliver long-lasting value for neighboring communities and stakeholders. This includes prioritizing investment in historically disadvantaged communities, environmental protection, and workforce development”, said John Dempsey, CEO of Bluepoint Wind. 

The name Bluepoint Wind pays homage to the history of oysters in the coastal regions of New York and New Jersey, where oysters were once a cornerstone of local ecosystems and culture, the developers said.

The project has partnered with the Billion Oyster Project, an organisation dedicated to restoring oysters in New York and the New York Harbor, one of the busiest ports in the United States.

Pete Malinowski, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Billion Oyster Project said: “Billion Oyster Project is excited to partner with Bluepoint Wind, which is aligned with our mission of securing a healthy, biodiverse New York harbor. Bluepoint Wind’s unique approach to responsible development of their offshore wind farm directly reflects our belief that if we are to continue living, working, teaching and learning on this planet, we must build alliances and partnerships to fundamentally change how we interact with nature”.

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