Equinor Forms Union Alliance for New York’s First Offshore Wind Hub

March 28, 2024, by Adnan Memija

Empire Wind and the Building & Construction Trades Council of Greater New York and Vicinity (BCTC) have signed a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) for the construction of the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal (SMBT).

The revitalized SMBT will play a key role in Equinor’s development of the Empire Wind offshore wind project as a staging and assembly site and as a home for the project’s operations and maintenance base.

The first-of-its-kind PLA for Equinor will establish working standards, safety practices, and equity in the construction of the terminal, creating over 1,000 union construction jobs and apprenticeships in local New York communities, as well as thousands of indirect jobs in manufacturing, shipping and logistics.

The agreement also promotes engagement with Minority- and Women-Owned Businesses (MWBE) and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Businesses (SDVOB) and includes a local hire requirement that gives priority to union members who are Section 3 New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) residents, veterans, and those who live in Sunset Park, according to Equinor.

“As the hub for Empire Wind, SBMT will play a transformational role in the development of the offshore wind industry and deliver more than renewable energy generated off New York’s shores. It will spur a durable new industry for the Empire State,” said Molly Morris, President of Equinor Renewables America.

According to Equinor, the agreement also ensures labor harmony during the construction of SBMT, establishes uniform wages and benefits, and ensures a steady supply of New York labor throughout the project.

Construction at the 73-acre terminal is expected to commence next week, starting with the demolition of existing outbuildings, excavation of the site, and bulkhead preparation work. Contracts covered by the agreement include Skanska, GE-BOND, and Nexans.

Being a low-emissions facility with solar power and EV charging stations installed onsite, SBMT will provide onshore power and charging for the Empire Wind service operations vessel (SOV), the first plug-in hybrid vessel for the US offshore wind industry.

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Empire Wind is located 15-30 miles southeast of Long Island and spans 80,000 acres. The project’s two phases, Empire Wind 1 and 2 have a potential capacity of more than 2 GW (810 + 1,260 MW), enough to power over one million New York homes.

Last month, Empire Wind 1 was selected as a provisional winner in New York’s fourth offshore wind solicitation.

Equinor recently received authorisation from the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to link the Empire Wind 1 offshore wind project directly into New York’s transmission system.