Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corp. announced today it has signed the first ever subcontract for procurement of rock for a U.S. offshore wind farm with Carver Sand & Gravel LLC, a quarry located in Schoharie, N.Y.
Through this subcontract, Houston-based Great Lakes Dredge will use rock produced in the state of New York to provide scour protection for offshore wind turbine foundations and substations at Equinor and bp’s Empire Wind I and Empire Wind II wind farms. The rock will be quarried locally, transported to the quayside on the Hudson River, and loaded onto Great Lakes Dredge’s rock installation vessel Acadia, which will install the rock starting in 2025.
Great Lakes and Carver will be developing the first U.S. rock supply chain for offshore wind, including the quarry producing the rock, the stockpiling and transportation of the rock to the quayside, the port and loading facilities that will load the rock installation vessel, and other facilities along the Hudson River that will help guide the vessel in the riverway.
“This is a significant milestone for Great Lakes, our clients, Equinor, and bp, as well as Carver," Eleni Beyko, Great Lakes’ senior vice president, U.S. offshore wind, said in a statement. "We have worked closely with Equinor and bp to develop this rock supply chain for the Empire Wind projects to deliver local content from the state of New York. With safety and quality as our top priorities, we will be supporting the local communities by creating local jobs and stimulating economic activity in the state of New York.”
“The subcontract between Great Lakes and Carver is a great example of how New York’s offshore wind projects, such as Equinor and bp’s Empire Wind, continue to drive industry firsts with major investments in existing New York businesses and workers that will build the American offshore wind supply chain providing a huge win for all involved,” said NY State Energy Research & Development Authority, President and CEO Doreen M. Harris.
