2 GW Maryland Offshore Wind Project Receives Federal Approval

September 6, 2024, by Adnan Memija

US Wind has received approval on the Construction and Operations Plan (COP) of the Maryland Offshore Wind Project. The US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) released its Record of Decision (ROD), authorising the construction of up to 114 wind turbines.

The Maryland Offshore Wind Project consists of three planned phases. Two phases, known as MarWin and Momentum Wind, already have offshore renewable energy certificates from the State of Maryland.

US Wind acquired an 80,000-acre federal lease area off the coast of Maryland in 2014. In 2017, Maryland approved the company’s MarWin project and, in 2021, the state approved the Momentum Wind project.

The lease area is approximately 8.7 nautical miles offshore Maryland and about 9 nautical miles from Sussex County, Delaware, at its closest points to shore.

The Maryland Offshore Wind Project includes the installation of up to 114 wind turbines, up to four offshore substation platforms, one meteorological tower, and up to four offshore export cable corridors.

US Wind’s Maryland Offshore Wind Project, as approved, could generate over 2 GW of clean, renewable energy for the Delmarva Peninsula and power over 718,000 homes. Additionally, the development and construction phases of the project could support almost 2,680 jobs annually over seven years.

In July, BOEM released the final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the offshore wind project.

“BOEM’s Record of Decision brings us another step closer to securing final approvals later this year and getting steel in the water. We’re eager to advance Maryland’s offshore wind goals and support good jobs in the region for decades to come”, said Jeff Grybowski, US Wind CEO.

In addition to building MarWin and Momentum Wind, US Wind also plans to establish Maryland’s first permanent offshore wind component factory – Sparrows Point Steel.

Last month, Maryland Governor Wes Moore announced its plans to invest 4.7 million in federal funds for training and job placement initiatives to expand the US state’s offshore wind workforce.