US Wind secures final EIS for 2-GW offshore wind project

If finally approved, US Wind’s project could generate up to 2 GW of clean power. The company plans to develop the project in three phases. Two of those phases, MarWin and Momentum Wind, have received offshore renewable energy certificates from the State of Maryland. The construction and operations plan for the project will be published in the Federal Register on 2 August 2024.

US Wind chief executive Jeff Grybowski said approval of the final EIS by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) means the company is “well on our way to putting Maryland’s offshore wind goals that much closer to reality.

“We applaud BOEM for the comprehensive and thorough review of our federal permit application,” he said. “We are now one step closer to securing all of our federal permits by the end of this year, and look forward to the day we can get steel in the water.”

US Wind’s COP considers the full build-out of the federal lease area. The final EIS is a major milestone in the two-year National Environmental Policy Act process, indicating the company’s plans are nearly through the federal review process. 

The next step is for BOEM to issue a Record of Decision (ROD) on US Wind’s COP, which is expected in September 2024. Other co-operating federal agencies and state agencies are expected to give favourable decisions by the end of 2024. 

If approved, the project proposes to install up to 114 turbines, up to four offshore substation platforms, one meteorological tower, and up to four corridors for offshore export cables, which would make landfall in Delaware Seashore State Park. 

The lease area is approximately 8.7 nautical miles offshore Maryland and approximately 9 nautical miles offshore Sussex County, Delaware, at its closest points to shore. If approved, the development and construction phases of the project could support an estimated 2,679 jobs annually over seven years. As part of its proposed project, US Wind advanced plans to build an offshore wind turbine foundation facility in Baltimore Harbour, which, when fully operational, would employ up to 530 people including hundreds of unionised steelworkers.  

Responding, Oceantic Network president and chief executive Liz Burdock said, “Maryland has long seen offshore wind power as a key part of its energy and economic future, investing in a local offshore wind supply chain and the development of robust clean energy targets that have been driving the industry forward since its early stages. 

“Today, the state has a commercial scale project nearing full construction approval and is poised to become a regional hub for offshore wind manufacturing and steel fabrication. 

“Along with US Wind’s direct investment in Sparrows Point Steel, this offshore wind project will contribute to new jobs across Maryland and throughout the supply chain. While more projects are needed to meet Maryland’s offshore wind energy targets, today’s action is an important step forward to advance another commercial scale offshore wind project.”