MARYLAND - The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, on Sept. 29, announced the availability of the draft Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed Maryland Offshore Wind Project.
According to the department, if approved, the project could generate between 1,100 and 2,200 megawatts of clean, renewable energy for the Delmarva Peninsula, which could power up to 770,000 homes.
"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."
The department officials say US Wind, Inc. is seeking approval for the construction and operation of the Maryland Offshore Wind Project, which includes three planned phases. Two of those phases, MarWin and Momentum Wind, have offshore renewable energy certificates from the State of Maryland.
They say the US Wind's proposal for all three phases includes the installation of up to 121 turbines, up to four offshore substation platforms, one meteorological tower, and up to four offshore export cable corridors with landfall occurring within Delaware Seashore State Park.
The lease area is approximately 8.7 nautical miles (nm) offshore of Maryland and approximately 9 nm from Sussex County, Delaware.
If approved, the development and construction phases of the project could support up to an estimated 2,679 jobs annually over seven years.
The project's draft EIS can be found on BOEM's website. BOEM will publish a notice in the Federal Register on October 6, 2023, announcing the availability of the draft EIS. That notice will open a 45-day public comment period ending at 11:59 p.m. ET on November 20, 2023. The input received during the comment period will inform the preparation of the final EIS.
During the comment period, BOEM will hold two in-person public meetings and two virtual meetings. During these meetings, the public can learn more about the review process, the EIS schedule, potential impacts from the proposed project, and proposals to reduce potential impacts. Participants also will have an opportunity to provide comments on the draft EIS.
In-Person public meetings:
- Tues., Oct. 24, 2023, at 5:00 p.m.
Ocean City Elementary
12828 Center Dr, Ocean City, MD 21842 - Thu., Oct. 26, 2023, at 5:00 p.m.
Indian River High School
29772 Armory Rd, Dagsboro, DE 19939