"US Wind criticizes the Trump administration's decision to abandon the Delmarva offshore wind farm project, accusing it of being politically driven"
In a move that has sparked controversy, the Trump administration has approved the construction and operations plan for the MarWin offshore wind project, located off the coast of Ocean City, Maryland, and Fenwick Island, Delaware. The project, if completed, would be capable of generating 300 megawatts of electricity and powering 92,000 Maryland homes.
However, the approval process has not been without controversy. The plaintiffs opposing the project in Maryland argue that federal officials at the time coordinated to bypass transparency and shortcut the statutory and regulatory requirements to approve major offshore projects "as fast as possible."
The Baltimore-based subsidiary of an Italian energy company, US Wind, has called the administration's moves "politically motivated." Kris Ohleth, director of the Special Initiative on Offshore Wind, accuses the Trump administration of using its anti-wind bias to kill renewable energy projects across the country.
The MarWin project includes running power transmission cables from the wind farm constructed 3 miles offshore in the Atlantic Ocean to 3Rs Beach at Delaware Seashore State Park. Delaware has a $128 million agreement with US Wind for the two Delmarva offshore wind projects.
The first project, if completed, would mark a significant step towards Maryland's goal of obtaining 50% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. US Wind also has plans for another project that would provide Maryland with renewable power, but no information is available about a company planning to build a wind energy facility in the state of Delaware.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has refuted concerns about the impact of wind farms on marine life. Despite claims by US Department of Energy Secretary Chris Wright that offshore wind raises electricity prices and that wind farms are killing whales, NOAA states that there are no known links between large whale deaths and ongoing offshore wind activities.
The federal action comes as the Trump administration continues its antipathy towards offshore wind projects and downplays the impact of climate change. In a recent comment, Wright stated that renewable energy projects are not incredibly important for the quality of one's life.
The Trump administration's moves against offshore wind projects have not been limited to Maryland. The administration has also moved to kill the offshore energy project off the coast of the Delmarva Peninsula.
In a twist of events, BOEM has asked for a stay in the Delaware case until Judge Gallagher renders a decision in Maryland. BOEM has also declared that the authorization for US Wind to begin construction was faulty and that the bureau plans to re-review the information and issue a new verdict.
In response to the Sussex County Council's rejection of the permit application for the substation, Renewable Development, a subsidiary of US Wind, has appealed the decision. The Sussex County Council voted last year to reject US Wind's permit application for the substation, but Gov. Matt Meyer signed legislation on June 30 that overturned the denial.
The future of the MarWin project and the broader offshore wind industry in the United States remains uncertain amidst ongoing legal battles and political controversy.
