Biden Administration Approves Tenth Offshore Wind Project Off Coast of Maryland
Contact:
Larisa Manescu, larisa.manescu@sierraclub.org
Christine Ho, christine.ho@sierraclub.org
Maryland – Today, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management issued a Record of Decision on US Wind’s Construction and Operations Plan for an offshore wind project in Maryland, marking the Biden administration’s final approval for this project. This is the nation’s tenth approved offshore wind project.
The approved proposal by US Wind is projected to generate up to 2,200 megawatts of electricity—enough to power up to 770,000 homes in Maryland with clean, renewable energy. The project, which consists of three phases, is expected to create nearly 3,000 stable, union jobs in the region. Once completed, this project will bring the state of Maryland closer to its goal of capturing 8.5 gigawatts (GW) of electricity from offshore wind by 2031. Nationally, this approval moves the US halfway towards the Biden-Harris administration’s goal of 30 GW of offshore wind by 2030.
“US Wind’s offshore wind project in Maryland will lower electricity costs for hard working residents, improve health outcomes within the region, and boost the local economy by creating thousands of jobs. Today’s announcement reaffirms the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to renewable energy; we are transitioning away from harmful fossil fuels and towards a cleaner, healthier future,” said Sierra Club’s Senior Advisor for Offshore Wind Nancy Pyne.
“Offshore wind energy is a critical resource that will help Maryland reach the ambitious climate goals set in the Climate Pollution Reduction Plan,” said Josh Tulkin, Maryland Sierra Club Chapter Director. “By moving away from reliance on dirty fossil fuel energy and building renewable energy, Marylanders will be able to breathe cleaner air and benefit from new clean energy jobs.”
“Coastal communities will be one of the first to bear the burdens of climate change,” said Christina Hulslander, Chair of the Lower Eastern Shore Group of the Maryland Sierra Club. “Rising sea levels continue to be a constant threat and we must do everything in our power to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions in our atmosphere. Moving towards clean energy sources and implementing energy efficiency measures are crucial solutions.”
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About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.