BOEM approves the construction of 132 MW Deepwater ONE – South Fork offshore wind project off Rhode Island

US Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has approved the construction of the 132 MW Deepwater ONE – South Fork offshore wind farm project off the coast of Rhode Island.

The South Fork is jointly developed by Orsted and Eversource. The project's construction phase is planned to start in early 2022 and is expected to achieve commercial operation at the end of 2023.

BOEM’s issuance of the Record of Decision concludes the BOEM-led environmental review of the project. It will be followed in January by the final approval of South Fork Wind’s Construction and Operations Plan (COP).

The COP outlines the project’s uniform one nautical mile turbine layout, the construction methodology for all work occurring in federal ocean waters, fishing industry compensation plan, and mitigation measures to protect species, such as North Atlantic Right Whales.