DELMARVA - Offshore wind developer US Wind has entered memoranda of understanding with Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) in which the company has proposed $20 million in support to local fishermen.
According to a press release from US Wind, the agreements with the states were developed in response to watermen feedback as US Wind continues to pursue a project off Sussex and Worcester Counties. The Trump Administration’s reversal of a Biden-era push for offshore wind has left the future of the project uncertain.
“This proposal -- one of the biggest investments in commercial fishing in the region – demonstrates our commitment to the fishing industry and the local community in which we’ll operate,” said Jeffrey Grybowski, US Wind CEO. “The funding will provide direct support to commercial and charter fishermen, grants for local businesses, and support for harbor maintenance and infrastructure. We’re looking forward to continuing our work with local fishermen and the states of Maryland and Delaware to finalize this unprecedented agreement.”
US Wind says $13.5 million of the $20 million proposal would go to the following in Maryland:
-Grants for fishing businesses in the harbor to continue the offloading of catch and ice services;
-30 years of funding for West Ocean City Harbor maintenance, such as dredging requested each year by the community, dock and shore stabilization
-Substantial money for gear development, marketing of local seafood, fishing business development, and incentives for new commercial fishermen.
In Delaware, US Wind says the proposed funds would be spent on the Multi-Use Fishing Community Resilience Fund for fishing-related research.
In addition to the separate Resilience Funds, $5.4 million of the proposed payments would be distributed as claims-based compensation for commercial and for-hire recreational fishermen who can demonstrate US Wind’s projects impacts their revenue, according to the company. The proposal also includes over $1 million is upgraded navigation and safety equipment for local vessels operating near the windfarms.
US Wind says they are still pursuing a facility in the West Ocean City Harbor to serve as their main location to plan and coordinate offshore wind turbine maintenance and service. Under the new MOU with Maryland, US Wind says it will only use one of the two properties they have optioned in West Ocean City.
“By only developing one site instead of two and investing in grants for fishing service providers, the agreement will benefit and enhance commercial fishing services at the West Ocean City Harbor,” the company said in a statement Wednesday.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.