SOURCE:
By Karina Kovac and Kepherd Daniel - July 12, 2023
It’s been a quiet few months on the Equinor front, until now. The multi-billion-dollar Norwegian broad energy company has begun surveying south shore waters for old munitions and will soon be collecting sediment samples. In addition, “the planned offshore wind transmission act” known as bill A.7764 has passed through the State Assembly and Senate. The bill is intended to expedite wind power plants, much to environmental and labor groups glee and Republican politician’s chagrin.
South Shore surveying
Equinor has begun the first of their surveying work, which will be done by geophysical survey contractors Ocean Infinity and Ordtek. The specific survey, which is a permitting requirement, is called the Munitions and Explosives of Concern survey, which will look for possible leftovers from the military. Equinor officials couldn’t say how many boats will be out on the water, but the surveyors will be working 24/7 going through the offshore lease area and cable route where they’ll be deploying subsurface equipment along the export cable corridor. This work began mid-June and will finish approximately December this year.
“We don’t expect that any of the work will affect wildlife,” said Brian Young, Equnior’s senior communications consultant, “We haven’t had to get any authorized takes from the government or anything on that. So, it’s pretty non disruptive, hopefully.”
Onboard, “there will be protected species observers just to watch the wildlife and be on the lookout just for extra care,” said Lauren Shane, senior communications manager. Explaining further that their job is to note if they see wildlife like whales and dolphins and to adjust their actions according to federal limits, such as changing the vessels proximity to the animal and shutting engines off.
The second survey to be conducted from either late June or early July until August 15 is a sediment sample survey. Some 35 samples will be taken along the cable route to be analyzed to see what type of soil there is. This will help determine if the ground could handle the cable to be put in.
“Basically, they just drive something down into the ground and pull it up,” said Young, “they get the sample, no dredging, no excavation or any of that stuff.” The closest point the surveying will reach the shore is at about 500 feet off between Edwards Blvd and Long Beach Blvd.
Bill A.7764
On Wednesday, June 21 the State Assembly approved “the Planned Offshore Wind Transmission Act” in an 85 to 50 vote. The Senate passed the bill earlier on June 9. The bill grants regulators the authority to establish uniform standards and facilitate efficient coordination regarding proposals and transmission matters.
Environmental organizations Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Natural Resources Defense Council, New York League of Conservation Voters and the Sierra Club wrote a joint letter to the assembly to push through the legislation that’ll allow the project to advance without any further studies; something citizens and politicians have been asking for.
In the letter, the groups cite the critical need to reach New York’s climate goal of 9 gigawatts of energy produced by offshore wind. The Empire Wind 2 project is expected to contribute over one-third of that goal, or what the groups liken to removing the emissions of 1.3 million cars from the road annually and powering over a million residentials homes.
They wrote, “The Assembly has long championed efforts to combat climate change – now it is crucial that the body demonstrates that commitment with action and passes this bill this session. Our future and our children’s future is at stake.”
While the outcome of the project is not in contention, how its being done is. U.S Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, who hails from Island Park where the cable route will go through, has been vocal about his opposition to the project’s progress without further studies to quell community concerns.
His statement before the vote read, “Equnior has entered into an unholy alliance with Governor Hochul and her allies in the state legislature to push through this development against the wishes of nearby residents and elected officials entrusted with representing them. Governor Hochul has tasked a State Senator from Brooklyn with passing legislation that would effectively grant Equnior the right to advance this project despite calls for further study into potential impacts of such a large-scale offshore wind development.”
Assemblyman Ari Brown also put out a statement before the vote saying out-of-district Democrat legislators and the governor are ignoring “home room” and the wishes of the communities affected, such as Island Park, Long Beach and other nearby areas.
He stated,” Offshore wind is not necessarily cost-effective, and the forecasts of rapidly declining costs through increasing economies of scale are unrealistic. These subsidies, along with the need for additional transmission infrastructure and backup sources of electricity are likely to increase the cost of electricity for consumers and reduce economic growth. A windfarm off of our beautiful south shore will also reduce property values for homes and other properties.”