Maryland considers offshore wind applications

Maryland moves closer to offshore wind development, as the state Public Service Commission reviews two applications for offshore wind projects.

The Maryland Offshore Energy Act of 2013 contains a number of provisions that would benefit a “qualified offshore wind project” that

1. is located on the outer continental shelf, between 10 and 30 miles off the Maryland coast, in an area that is designated for leasing by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management within the U.S. Department of the Interior,
2. interconnects to the PJM Interconnection grid at a point located on the Delmarva peninsula, and
3. is approved by the Public Service Commission.

On February 25, 2016, the Maryland Public Service Commission opened an application period for Offshore Wind Projects.  While the original deadline was August 23, it was ultimately extended three times, until November 18, 2016.

On November 22, the Commission's consultant announced that two offshore wind project applications were submitted, found to be administratively complete, and found to have met the minimum threshold criteria. The applicants are (i) US Wind, Inc., a subsidiary of Toto Holding SpA, and (ii) Skipjack Offshore Wind, LLC, a subsidiary of Deepwater Wind Holdings, LLC.

The Commission then opened a docketed proceeding (Case Number 9431) to conduct a multi-part review to evaluate and compare the proposed offshore wind project applications submitted by US Wind and Skipjack.  Petitions to intervene in that proceeding are due by Monday, December 12, 2016.