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Offshore Wind

Sive, Paget & Riesel is a recognized leader in offshore wind energy development in the area of the Atlantic Ocean known as the New York Bight.  We work for and have deep contacts with both governmental decisionmakers and the offshore wind industry, including not only US and European offshore wind and transmission developers, but also the port developers, equipment manufacturers, and service providers that are critical to the industry’s regional growth.

SPR currently represents Equinor Wind US on the permitting and development of its Empire Wind 1 and Empire Wind 2 projects, which will deliver renewable energy to New York City and Long Island, respectively. SPR also advises on the permitting and development of the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal as a staging and operations and maintenance facility for offshore wind projects. Empire Wind 1 and the SBMT Port Project currently are under construction.

SPR represents port developer Atlantic Offshore Terminals, which is proposing to develop Arthur Kill Terminal, the first offshore wind pre-assembly port facility in New York State.  This Staten Island project is uniquely positioned to serve the offshore wind industry in New York, New Jersey and along the Mid-Atlantic and will be a hub for the development of an offshore wind supply chain in New York.  SPR assisted in identifying and acquiring the Arthur Kill Terminal project site and is shepherding the project through the state and federal permitting and approval processes, as it has done for scores of complex infrastructure projects throughout the Firm’s long history.

The Firm was proud to work closely with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) on the development of the groundbreaking New York State Offshore Wind Master Plan, which underlies the State’s goal of reaching 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind energy by 2035.  SPR assisted in the preparation of the Offshore Wind Master Plan and its 20 supporting studies, which address relevant environmental, social, economic, regulatory, and infrastructure issues.  The Firm also helped prepare the generic environmental impact statement for the State’s procurement of Offshore Wind Renewable Energy Credits.

Members of the Firm’s Offshore Wind Team regularly lecture in the US and Europe on offshore wind issues.  We will continue to bring our expertise and passion for renewable energy to bear on the goal of developing a robust offshore wind energy industry in the New York Bight.

NYSERDA – Offshore Wind

Location: New York

SPR advises NYSERDA on the various initiatives to facilitate New York State’s offshore wind program. SPR played a significant role in the development of the New York State Offshore Wind Master Plan, the first such plan in the nation, along with its 21 supporting environmental and infrastructure studies. SPR also oversaw the preparation of the environmental review required for the State’s first procurement of Offshore Renewable Energy Credits.

Equinor Wind – Empire Wind Offshore Wind Projects

Location: Long Island, NY

SPR represents Equinor Wind US in the local and state permitting and development, and aspects of federal permitting, for the Empire Wind 1 and the Empire Wind 2 offshore wind projects that will supply New York State with over 2 gigawatts of renewable energy, power 1 million homes, and provide billions of dollars of economic benefits to the State. The projects also are expected to provide tens of millions of dollars in investments in long-term port facilities, related infrastructure, and new technologies. Together, these offshore wind projects will help the State meet the renewable energy and offshore wind capacity mandates set forth in NY’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, diversify NY’s energy portfolio, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. SPR assisted Equinor acquire various properties that will support its offshore wind projects, and helps navigate the remediation of those properties thorough the Brownfield Cleanup Program. The Firm also advises Equinor on parkland alienation and conversion issues, on the development of an offshore wind port in New York City that will service Equinor’s offshore wind projects and house the onshore substation for the Empire Wind 1 project, on other required local approvals and land rights, on contractor procurement, and on diligence for private finance relating to environmental permitting and litigation risk. SPR assisted Equinor on the development of the Beacon Wind 1 offshore wind project until early 2024, when Equinor transferred its interest in that project to another offshore wind developer.

Arthur Kill Terminal

Location: Staten Island, NY

SPR is environmental counsel to the developer of the proposed Arthur Kill Terminal, the first offshore wind pre-assembly port facility in New York State. SPR assisted in identifying and acquiring the project site and is shepherding the project through the state and federal permitting and approval processes. This Staten Island project is uniquely positioned to serve the offshore wind industry in the Mid-Atlantic and will form a hub for the development of an offshore wind supply chain. The project will reduce the cost of constructing and operating offshore wind projects, facilitate the realization of significant local economic benefits, create thousands of jobs, provide workforce development and training, and catalyze supply chain investments needed to support offshore wind projects throughout the United States.

Cape Cod Offshore Wind Farm

Location: Cape Cod, Massachusetts

SPR performed due diligence on behalf of a potential investor in the proposed Cape Wind offshore wind farm, located off Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The work involved review of the project EIS and analysis of permitting requirements under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, Rivers and Harbors Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and Endangered Species Acts.

“U.S. Offshore Wind Permitting and Development: The Answer is Blowin’ in the Wind”

For: Quimbee

August 2021 | Co-Presented by Dan Chorost and Katherine Ghilain Trudell

“Environmental Aspects of Energy Development”

For: ALI Environmental Law Conference

2021 | Presented by Jennifer Coghlan

“Celebration of Project to Develop Offshore Wind Pre-Assembly Facility in New York City”

For: Sive, Paget & Riesel's "Cruise to the Future" Event, New York, NY

April 2019 | Presented by Dan Chorost
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“The Future of Offshore Wind: New York State Full-Day Symposium”

For: Sive, Paget & Riesel, New York, NY

June 2018 | Presented by Dan Chorost

“A Primer on U.S. Offshore Wind Energy Development”

For: American Law Institute/Environmental Law Institute, National Environmental Law Annual Conference, Washington, DC

February 2019 | Presented by Dan Chorost

“The Future of Offshore Wind: New York State”

For: Sive, Paget & Riesel's full-day Offshore Wind symposium

June 2018 | Presented by Dan Chorost
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“State and Federal Permitting of Offshore Wind in the United States”

For: The German-American Chamber of Commerce

June 2018 | Presented by Dan Chorost

“Offshore Wind for New York: Regulatory Framework and Update”

For: The Association of the Bar of the City of New York, Environmental/Energy Law Committee’s Offshore Wind Initiative: The Legal Path Forward, New York, NY

May 2018 | Presented by Dan Chorost

“U.S. Offshore Wind Development”

For: Presenter at Stibbe Offshore Wind Expert Symposium, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

November 2017 | Presented by Dan Chorost

“A Lawyer’s Guide to Power Purchase Agreements for Renewable Energy”

For: Lawline.com

May 24, 2017 | Presented by John-Patrick Curran

“Renewable Energy: Law, Politics & Practice”

For: Lawline.com, Webcast

February 19, 2016 | Presented by John-Patrick Curran

“The Law of Renewable Energy,” Presenter

For: The New York State Bar Association’s Environmental Law Annual Meeting

January 2016 | Presented by Dan Chorost

“Renewable Energy; Ethics in the Practice of Law; and Environmental Law,” Presenter

For: NYS Bar Association CLE speaker

2010-2011 | Presented by Scott Furman