US Wind starts marine survey for 750-MW project off Maryland

US Wind Inc on Friday initiated a marine survey that will help prepare the final layout for the company’s 750-MW wind project off the coast of Ocean City, Maryland.

The Baltimore-based company, a unit of Italian renewables developer Renexia SpA, has hired Alpine Ocean Seismic Survey Inc to collect data along the 35-mile (56.3-km) route from the project site through Indian River Bay to a power station near Millsboro, Delaware. Over a period of two weeks, Alpine Ocean will use its R/V Shearwater vessel to take sediment core samples at 36 locations to check if the composition of the sediment is safe for the power cable.

“Over the coming months, we will be undertaking more activities to ensure the success of this project and position Maryland as the East Coast hub for the booming offshore wind industry,” said Paul Rich, director of project development for US Wind Inc. These upcoming activities include installing a meteorological station to assess weather conditions at the site.

In October 2014, US Wind agreed to pay USD 8.7 million (EUR 7.8m) for two leases off the Maryland coast for the construction of commercial-scale wind farms. Its plan is to erect up to 187 turbines off the coast of Ocean City.

According to Rich, the project will lead to a reduction in monthly bills of at least USD 2.00 for Maryland ratepayers.

(USD 1.0 = EUR 0.895)

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