The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has completed the final environmental impact statement (EIS) for US Wind’s proposed 114-turbine wind project offshore Maryland.

“Our environmental review carefully considered the best available science and information provided by Tribes, other government agencies, local communities, industry, ocean users and environmental organizations,” said BOEM Director Elizabeth Klein. “This vital collaboration with all our government partners and stakeholders will continue through the subsequent phases of the project.”

If approved, the project could generate between 1.1 gigawatts (GW) and 2.2 GW of electricity, according to BOEM. US Wind has proposed developing the project in three phases. These include the 300-megawatt (MW) MarWin and the approximately 800-MW Momentum Wind, both of which have received offshore renewable energy certificates from the state of Maryland.

“We are well on our way to putting Maryland’s offshore wind goals that much closer to reality,” said Jeff Grybowski, US Wind CEO. “We applaud BOEM for the comprehensive and thorough review of our federal permit application. We are now one step closer to securing all of our federal permits by the end of this year, and look forward to the day we can get steel in the water.”

The project also includes plans for up to four offshore substation platforms, one meteorological tower and up to four corridors for offshore export cables making landfall in Delaware Seashore State Park.

The final EIS is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register in the coming days, BOEM said.

Next steps for the project include a Record of Decision from BOEM on US Wind’s Construction and Operations Plan, which is expected in September.

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