MARYLAND - The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has released a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a proposed Maryland Offshore Wind Project and is seeking public comment on the statement.
The wind project could generate up to 2,200 megawatts of renewable energy for Delmarva, powering up to 770,000 homes, according to BOEM. The proposal comes as part of the Biden-Harris administration’s 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy goal by 2030.
“Today's announcement represents another milestone under this Administration’s commitment to promoting clean energy production and fighting climate change, while ensuring our efforts are done in a transparent and inclusive manner,” said BOEM Director Elizabeth Klein. “We value the knowledge we receive from Tribal nations, other government agencies, environmental organizations, local communities, ocean users, and others. Working together, we can reduce conflicts and establish a strong foundation for offshore wind energy projects moving forward.”
US Wind, Inc. has proposed the installation of up to 121 turbines, up to four offshore substation platforms, up to four offshore export cable corridors with landfall in Delaware Seashore State Park, and one meteorological tower, according to BOEM. The proposed area is just under 9 nautical miles off Maryland’s shore and about 9 nautical miles from Delaware’s Sussex County.
The project’s approval will rely on the findings of BOEM’s final Environmental Impact Statement. The draft EIS is available here.
BOEM says a 45-day public comment period on the EIS will commence on October 6th, with comments informing the preparation of the final statement.
Two meetings have been scheduled for the public to learn about BOEM’s review process as well as the potential impacts of the offshore wind project. Those meetings are planned as follows:
-Tues., Oct. 24 - 5:00 p.m.
Ocean City Elementary
12828 Center Dr, Ocean City, MD 21842
-Thu., Oct. 26 - 5:00 p.m.
Indian River High School
29772 Armory Rd, Dagsboro, DE 19939
Two virtual meetings have also been planned, one on October 19th at 1 p.m., and another on October 30th at 5 p.m.
