The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) recently finalized and published its Final Environmental Assessment (FEA) for US Wind’s proposed offshore wind project off the coast of Maryland. The project is part of the Biden-Harris administration’s goal of 30 gigawatts of offshore wind power by 2030. It calls for the installation of 114 wind turbines, capable of generating between 1,100 and 2,200 megawatts of clean energy, powering up to 770,000 homes.
Project background and details
BOEM conducted an extensive environmental analysis in collaboration with tribes, government agencies, local communities, marine users and environmental organizations.
The project is being developed in three phases, with MarWin and Momentum Wind having already received offshore renewable energy certificates from the State of Maryland.
The concession area extends approximately 8.7 nautical miles offshore Maryland and approximately 9 nautical miles offshore Sussex County, Delaware.
The project also includes the installation of four offshore substation platforms, a meteorological tower and export cable corridors that will surface in Delaware Seashore State Park.
Economic and environmental impact
BOEM’s assessment took into account the best available scientific data, as well as the concerns of marine users and commercial fishermen.
Public and virtual consultations held in 2022 and 2023 provided essential feedback from tribes, local communities and industry stakeholders.
The development and construction of the offshore wind project is expected to create around 2,679 annual jobs over a seven-year period.
These economic opportunities will reinforce the energy transition while stimulating the local economy.
If approved, the project will represent a major step towards the national goal of offshore wind energy deployment.
Progress of the Biden-Harris Administration
Since the start of the Biden-Harris administration, the Department of the Interior has approved nine commercial offshore wind projects, with a combined capacity of over 13 gigawatts.
These projects are expected to power nearly 5 million homes.
The Department also held four auctions for offshore wind concessions, including record sales off New York and the first sales off the Pacific coast and in the Gulf of Mexico.
In addition, the Department is planning up to 12 further concession sales between now and 2028.
The next auction, scheduled for August 14, concerns the Mid-Atlantic region, with areas off Delaware, Maryland and Virginia, potentially generating up to 6.3 gigawatts of clean energy.
The offshore wind project off the coast of Maryland illustrates the concerted efforts of the United States to develop a sustainable wind industry.
By promoting project labor agreements, strengthening workforce training and supporting the domestic supply chain, the Biden-Harris administration is laying the foundations for a successful energy transition.
The expected positive economic and environmental impacts underline the importance of strategic planning and active collaboration between all stakeholders.
