New York State has some of the most ambitious climate goals in the nation, with an aim to manufacture 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind by 2035 and to operate on 100 percent zero-emission electricity by 2040. Success will require equally ambitious action, especially in renewable energy. For a sign that New York State is serious in its climate commitments, one should look to the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal (SBMT), where the international energy company Equinor broke ground this past June on a transformative construction project that will support the Empire Wind 1 offshore wind project and renew an underused South Brooklyn port into the flagship staging, operations, and maintenance hub for offshore wind in the United States.
Located in the historic Sunset Park, Brooklyn, SBMT’s more than 60 acres of staging area (out of a total 73 acres) is the biggest in the country. It will house the Operations & Maintenance Base (O&M) for Empire Wind 1, which includes a control room that monitors the wind farm around the clock. SBMT is being developed as a low-emissions facility, with hybrid service operation and crew transfer vessels, solar power, and EV charging stations.
We identified SBMT early on as the best port for offshore wind staging activities in the New York Bight due to location, size, access, and workforce availability.
Location, Location, Location
The port project aims to qualify for the Waterfront Alliance WEDG® (Waterfront Edge Design Guidelines), the gold standard for resilience, ecology, and access in waterfront design. Once qualified, the project will exemplify the best in coastal resilience for our region, and an example beyond. With an onshore substation that will connect 810 MW of offshore wind power to the existing Gowanus substation, Empire Wind 1 will be the first offshore wind project to connect directly into the New York City grid.
The modernized facility is designed to accommodate other developers in the massive staging area and operations base—all in a single, easy-to-access location. The SBMT site can receive materials by truck, ship, and rail, providing multiple delivery options to minimize traffic bottlenecks in the neighborhood.
Another benefit to the industry is the terminal’s South Brooklyn location inside Sunset Park’s designated Energy Community, which has the potential to provide a 10 percent tax credit under IRA guidelines for any project using the terminal as its maintenance base and control center. The port itself will be open for additional business, for both staging and O&M activities, beginning in late 2027, after initial Empire Wind 1 staging operations are completed.
“We identified SBMT early on as the best port for offshore wind staging activities in the New York Bight due to location, size, access, and workforce availability,” said Teddy Muhlfelder, vice president of Renewables Americas for Equinor and Waterfront Alliance board member. “We are proud to accompany New York City in its leadership in the growing offshore wind industry.”
We’ve Got People
Empire Wind 1 will provide enough reliable, renewable energy for 500,000 homes, with an eye on late 2026 for delivery of first power. But energy isn’t all that this project will provide—it will combat the climate crisis, be centered in equity, and create countless employment opportunities. A Project Labor Agreement for the construction of SBMT established industry-leading safety practices and equity in building the terminal. Over 1,000 new union construction jobs will be created. Additionally, the manufacturing, shipping, and logistics involved in the project are likely to add hundreds more opportunities for employment in a Disadvantaged Community as the offshore wind industry ramps up.
As part of a holistic, community-facing mission, SBMT emphasizes opportunities for businesses owned by minorities, women, and service-disabled veterans, with over $100 million of contract work expected to be awarded for the construction of the port upgrades alone. The project has public-facing educational aspects as well, with the 2025 opening of the offshore wind learning center WindScape Brooklyn, which will offer courses on renewable energy and provide a community meeting space at SBMT.
We are proud to accompany New York City in its leadership in the growing offshore wind industry.
Playing the Long Game
Equinor’s commitment toward offshore wind in New York City extends beyond SBMT and Empire Wind 1. Under a partnership with the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), the company launched the Offshore Wind Ecosystem Fund, which has already awarded millions in grants to support sustainable growth, workforce development, empowerment of underserved communities, and climate justice. A diverse collection of eight groups and organizations were chosen to receive the award by the Sunset Park Task Force, which advocates to maximize economic potential in the area while emboldening links between the public, the waterfront, NYCEDC, and Equinor.
“Community engagement is crucial at every step of this project, and we are a dedicated partner in helping achieve the State’s climate goals,” Muhlfelder said. “We’re going to provide reliable, renewable energy to New York City. But we have a much broader objective to transform SBMT into a hub for offshore activity for the long-term.”
