US Wind currently holds the lease for an offshore wind project 12 miles off the coast from Ocean City. Plans call for installing 187 total turbines in 20 to 30 meters of water, over about 80,000 acres.
US Wind, Inc. is one of two developers whose applications for a Maryland offshore wind farm are being considered by the Public Service Commission (PSC) during a 180-day period, which began on November 28. The Maryland-based company’s application sets forth plans to develop the nation’s first large-scale offshore wind farm.
Its 750-MW proposal would construct up to 187 turbines off the coast of Ocean City and produce power for more than 500,000 Maryland homes. Of the two applicants, US Wind is the only Maryland-based company and has its national headquarters in Baltimore.
“US Wind has already spent more than $20 million to bring this industry to Maryland and we’re prepared to invest much more,” said Paul Rich, Director of Project Development. “This isn’t just about bringing a single project to Maryland – it’s about bringing an entire industry to Maryland. We live here, we are hiring here and we can’t wait to start generating clean, renewable Maryland energy.”
US Wind’s economic projections show that its Maryland project alone will create thousands of construction jobs and hundreds of well-paying long-term careers. In addition, US Wind officials say they want to make Maryland the epicenter of the emerging industry and the East Coast hub for offshore wind economic activity.
The company recently partnered with Tradepoint Atlantic, a 3,100-acre multi-modal industrial site in Sparrows Point, Baltimore, built on the site of a former steel mill, to host two information sessions with business leaders and government officials discussing the economic benefits offshore wind would bring to Maryland.
All applications to the PSC are required to meet criteria spelled out in the 2013 Maryland Offshore Wind Energy Act. US Wind’s application was determined to be administratively complete by the Public Service Commission and to have met all ratepayers’ safeguard criteria.
“We are the only applicant that has developed detailed engineering designs, conducted multiple offshore marine surveys, built strong ties to Eastern Shore and Baltimore stakeholders, identified prime areas of industrial manufacturing development and applied for the necessary interconnection queue positions from the power grid,” said Rich.
A second applicant’s proposal will also be considered by the PSC, but US Wind officials are confident in their proposal.
“We welcome the competition but we feel our proposal is superior in every way,” said Rich. “Our Maryland project will create an industry for offshore wind in Maryland. We have a quicker timeline and our project will provide more clean energy for the state, construct more turbines, create more local steel manufacturing and fabrication jobs, generate more economic benefits and provide the best deal for Maryland ratepayers.”
Filed Under: News, Offshore wind, Projects
