US Wind talks up Maryland offshore wind project of 750 MW

US Wind Inc pitched its 750-MW Maryland offshore wind project in a statement on Monday as state regulators began considering the applications for wind farms off the Maryland coast.

As announced recently, US Wind is one of two companies that have submitted applications in line with the Maryland Offshore Wind Energy Act of 2013 that envisages a subsidy in the form of Offshore Wind Renewable Energy Credits (ORECs). The other is Deepwater Wind, which has unveiled plans for a 120-MW wind farm.

Maryland-based US Wind, a subsidiary of Italy's Toto Holding SpA, said its application set forth plans for the US' first large-scale offshore wind farm. The company is proposing to build a 750-MW wind park containing up to 187 turbines off the coast of Ocean City.

It is confident it has submitted a superior proposal. "Our Maryland project will create an industry for offshore wind in Maryland. We have a quicker timeline and our project will provide more clean energy for the state, construct more turbines, create more local steel manufacturing and fabrication jobs, generate more economic benefits and provide the best deal for Maryland ratepayers," stated Paul Rich, director of project development.

"We are the only applicant that has developed detailed engineering designs, conducted multiple offshore marine surveys, built strong ties to Eastern Shore and Baltimore stakeholders, identified prime areas of industrial manufacturing development and applied for the necessary interconnection queue positions from the power grid," Rich also said.

US Wind has already invested more than USD 20 million (EUR 18.8m) in the project, according to the announcement. It has secured the two leases offshore Maryland that have been auctioned by the US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM).

The Maryland Public Service Commission (MPSC) has said it must approve, conditionally approve or deny the proposed offshore wind applications by May 17, 2017.

(USD 1.0 = EUR 0.939)

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