US Wind has warned Maryland regulators the state risks losing the race for port infrastructure investment if it fails to approve the developer’s 250MW offshore wind project.
The Public Service Commission expects to begin reviewing offshore renewable energy credit applications by US Wind and an unnamed rival at the end of this month. A decision is due in May 2017.
US Wind plans to base construction out of Tradepoint Atlantic’s (TPA) 3100-acre Sparrows Point site in the Port of Baltimore.
“US Wind chose to invest in Maryland because it has everything we need to become the central hub of offshore wind on the East Coast — optimal location, deep water, available land and access to a world-class workforce,” said director of project development Paul Rich.
The TPA facility would eventually serve both the developer’s offshore wind sites, the 750MW Maryland and 1500MW New Jersey projects.
US Wind said that without approval from the PSC, other competing ports on the east coast “will seize the chance to capture a multi-billion dollar manufacturing industry, leaving Maryland behind”.
The ports of Paulsboro, New Jersey and New Bedford, Massachusetts are also vying to become the Atlantic hub for offshore wind construction.
TPA has a 1,200-foot deep-water pier, a 2,200-foot deep-water marine berth and 3,100 acres of available land dedicated for manufacturing development.
The port is managed by Host Terminals and its subsidiary, Bay Marine Services.
Image: Maryland to review OREC application this month (sxc)
