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Wind Power News: Maryland
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational effort to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law.
Maryland hearing on wind farms reflects divergent views
If the debate during the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) hearing held Tuesday evening had been a prizefight, the referee and judges would likely have called it a draw. Both the pro-wind energy and renewables advocates, and the pro-tourism and those opposed to large-scale wind development off the Atlantic coast were out in force on Sept. 28 to wage a battle for the future of Maryland and Delaware coastlines. The hearing was labeled “Round Two” of the Year One development . . . Complete story »
Ocean City residents, businesses and environmentalists spar again over wind farm expansion proposals
Dozens of Ocean City residents, environmental groups and businesspeople were again split by the latest proposals for wind turbines off Maryland’s coast, during a lengthy hearing before the Maryland Public Service Commission on Tuesday night. The newest proposals come from the two companies that were approved in 2017 to begin constructing wind farms in the water along Ocean City – US Wind and Orsted. Both companies have applied to expand their farms in response to a call from the state for . . . Complete story »
Danish wind farm developer proposes expanded farm off the Eastern Shore and cable manufacturing in Sparrows Point
Offshore wind farm developer Ørsted wants to develop a second phase of its project off the coast of Ocean City, possibly competing with a proposal by US Wind that was unveiled earlier this month. Ørsted’s proposed Skipjack Wind 2, described during a hearing this week before state regulators, would generate 760 megawatts of electricity, enough to power more than 250,000 homes on the Delmarva peninsula. The project would create 1,000 permanent jobs and include developing a new cable manufacturing plant . . . Complete story »
Offshore wind farms not a hit in Ocean City
US Wind, one of two firms with plans for wind farms off Ocean City, announced at a recent celebratory news conference a deal to bring steel production back to the old Bethlehem Steel site at Sparrows Point. An army of dignitaries and office holders sang the praises of the plan to assemble steel parts for the wind turbines on part of the tract now known as Tradepoint Atlantic. “We’re gonna see manufacturing jobs back and we’re gonna see union jobs,” . . . Complete story »
Maryland offshore wind developer announces expansion plans
A Maryland offshore wind developer announced plans on Tuesday to expand on a wind turbine project off the coast of Ocean City and create a new steel production facility to make offshore wind foundations. US Wind announced plans to expand its 22-turbine MarWin project off the Maryland coast into a new project called Momentum Wind, which would include up to 82 turbines. Plans also call for developing 90 waterfront acres (36 hectares) into a new steel fabrication facility in Baltimore . . . Complete story »
Ørsted submits bid for second, larger offshore wind project
OCEAN CITY – One of the two companies planning an offshore wind farm project already in the planning pipeline on Wednesday applied for a second project roughly six times larger. In 2017, the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) approved two wind energy projects off the coast of Ocean City, including Ørsted’s Skipjack project. Technically, the PSC awarded Offshore Renewable Energy Credits, or ORECs, to the two successful bidders, including the Skipjack project. The Skipjack project is now making its way through . . . Complete story »
Ørsted submits bid for second Maryland wind power project
The developer of a wind farm near Ocean City says it has submitted a bid to the Maryland Public Service Commission for a new Round 2 offshore wind project. Ørsted said in a release that its Skipjack Wind 2 project for up to 760 megawatts will power more than 250,000 Delmarva homes. It said the bid is in response to the Maryland commission’s call for proposals for Round 2 offshore wind projects, through which the commission can award at least . . . Complete story »
First windfarm project expected to be built on coast of Maryland
Just 13 miles off the coast of Ocean City sits a little yellow buoy with a big mission. It’s a big milestone for the very first wind farm project that’s set to be built just off the coast of Maryland. This project has been a long time in the making, starting out back in 2015, but the buoy means Maryland is one step closer to a greener future. “This buoy is jam-packed with instruments we’re measuring everything from bats and . . . Complete story »
Former Coastal Bays director hired by wind farm developer
OCEAN CITY – With US Wind, one of the two companies pursuing an offshore wind energy farm off the coast of Ocean City, aiming to build bridges between stakeholders, the company has tapped a pair of familiar names and faces to handle the outreach. In 2014, US Wind acquired an 80,000-acre federal lease area off the coast of Ocean City to develop an offshore wind energy farm. In 2017, the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) awarded US Wind the Offshore Renewable . . . Complete story »
Dan’s Mountain wind project remains on hold
CUMBERLAND – A local couple have remained busy in their effort to derail a plan to construct wind turbines on Dan’s Mountain. Harwood subdivision residents Darlene and William Park, with the support of numerous neighbors, have been engaged in a legal battle against Dan’s Mountain Wind Force LLC. Their efforts have led to the project being stalled as they battle it in two courts. Dan’s Mountain Wind Force LLC developed plans several years ago to construct 17 wind turbines on the . . . Complete story »
