US Wind’s plan for Maryland offshore wind project approved

The milestone is the final approval needed for the project from BOEM following the Department of the Interior’s September 2024 record of decision.

US Wind chief executive Jeff Grybowski said approval “is a proud moment for US Wind." He said after more than four years of what he described as "rigorous and robust analysis," US Wind is thrilled to have secured final BOEM approval. “US Wind’s projects will produce massive amounts of homegrown energy and will help satisfy the region’s critical need for more electricity, all while supporting good local jobs. America can achieve energy abundance and put many Americans to work building the power plants of the future,” said Mr Grybowski.

In addition to approval of the COP, the National Marine Fisheries Service issued a letter of authorisation to US Wind on 26 November 2024, marking that agency’s final authorisation for US Wind’s construction in the federal lease area off the coast of Ocean City, Maryland. 

The project continues to face other hurdles, however, and is the subject of two ongoing lawsuits, one from The Caesar Rodney Institute, the other from the city of Ocean City.

The project – located approximately 8.7 nautical miles offshore Maryland and approximately 9 nautical miles from Sussex County, Delaware – will be able to generate more than 2 GW of clean power.

The approved project includes the multiple-phase construction and operation of up to 114 wind turbine generators, up to four offshore substation platforms, one meteorological tower, and up to four offshore export cable corridors. Two phases, known as MarWin and Momentum Wind, already have offshore renewable energy certificates from the State of Maryland.