Coast Guard Seeks Public Comment Until Nov. 21 On Empire Wind 1

LONG BRANCH — The U.S. Coast Guard is currently seeking public comment regarding their installation of "temporary safety zones" for a wind farm off New York and New Jersey.

The proposed wind farm is Empire Wind 1, which would be located about 13 miles south of Long Island and 19.5 miles off Long Branch. It is highly unlikely that Empire Wind's turbines will be seen from the shore; the proposed wind farm is located too far out.

The Coast Guard says they are required to set up temporary safety zones during construction. They propose establishing 55 temporary safety zones during the development of the Empire Wind 1 Wind Farm project area.

Only specifically authorized boats will be permitted to enter or remain in the temporary safety zones.

The Coast Guard said this is necessary to provide for the safety of life, property and the environment during construction of the wind turbines' foundation and subsequent installation of the wind turbine generators and offshore substations.

The Coast Guard announced this Nov. 7 in this press release: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Pres...

All comments are due by Nov. 21, 2024.

To submit a comment online, go to https://www.regulations.gov, and insert “USCG-2024-0704” in the “search box”. Click “Search” and then click “Comment.”

Questions on this can be directed to Craig Lapiejko in the First Coast Guard District’s Waterways Management division at 617-603-8592 or via email at Craig.D.Lapiejko@uscg.mil.

If it gets built, Empire Wind is only supposed to provide electric energy for New York state residents.

Construction of Empire Wind 1 is supposed to take place from March 1, 2025 through Feb. 29, 2028. However, financing for a second part of this wind farm, Empire Wind 2, collapsed last winter. So the fate of Empire Wind 1 remains unknown at this time. Read that story: BP Terminates Empire Wind 2 Farm; 2nd Jersey Shore Wind Farm Axed (Jan. 2024)