Equinor Lights the Way Offshore New England

Equinor has named its wind project off the coast of New England, US, Beacon Wind.

“Beacon conveys a sense of hope and guidance, qualities that we value very highly at Equinor, especially now,” said Siri Espedal Kindem, President of Equinor Wind U.S.

“Equinor is making substantial progress, even during these challenging times, in strengthening our ability to deliver renewable energy and further advancing our ambitions in the U.S.”

In early 2019, Equinor secured Lease OCS-A 0520, now known as Beacon Wind, offshore New England for USD 135 million in the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management lease auction.

The area covers 128,000 acres and is located approximately 20 miles south of Massachusetts and 70 miles east of New York.

“We are at a pivotal moment in the offshore wind industry and this project builds on the region’s momentum to bring renewable energy to Northeast households. I look forward to advancing Equinor’s leadership in the U.S. offshore wind industry through the development of Beacon Wind,” Kindem said.

The Beacon Wind project initiated wildlife surveys in 2019 and this summer will undertake survey work to characterize conditions of the lease area including geologic conditions, benthic habitat, and presence of obstructions and sensitive resources that will be considered during the development of the wind farm.

Equinor Wind’s Boston-based team is also actively engaged with commercial fishermen and their representatives, the company said.

The developer expects to secure all the necessary permits for the project in the next five to seven years.