After a successful completion of the Block Island Wind Farm, Deepwater Wind is moving south to start its next U.S. based offshore wind project in the Chesapeake Bay Area.
In early December 2016, information was released about the coordination between Deepwater Wind and BOEM regarding the “94,000-acre Delaware offshore wind lease area.” NRG, which has controlled Bluewater Wind since 2009, transferred the lease to Deepwater Wind. NRG acquired the wind lease area from BOEM, but halted progress in 2011. Along with the Delaware wind lease area, Deepwater Wind plans to construct a 120 MW Shipjack wind farm in Maryland waters.
The U.S. developer hopes to create Maryland’s largest renewable energy project with quick construction, beginning in 2020 and operating in 2022. Maryland state regulators will discuss the approval of this project and the 250 MW project proposed by US Wind, reaching a decision by May 2017. The Skipjack wind farm will be located 17 miles offshore and not visible from the coast, which compared to the Block Island Wind Farm will likely generate more support from the community stakeholders.
The project will provide Maryland with economic growth, expected to “generate well over $100 million in economic benefits.” Both Delaware and Maryland will benefit by Deepwater Wind’s involvement in the offshore wind industry in the Chesapeake area.