US Wind Receives Final Permit for Offshore Wind Weather Tower in Maryland

Maryland-based US Wind, Inc. has received its final air emissions permit from the Maryland Department of the Environment to install a meteorological tower in the Maryland Wind Energy Area. This is the latest step in its process to bring offshore wind power to Maryland. The company will begin the installation process for the tower immediately and next focus on its application for a Construction and Operations Plan to be submitted later this year to the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.

US Wind's Maryland project is planned 12 to 17 miles off the coast of Ocean City, Md. and would produce 750 MW of renewable energy and construct up to 187 turbines and produce power for more than 500,000 homes.

Today, US Wind also hosted several leading fabrication companies in Baltimore to discuss plans to locate more than $100 million worth of industrial facilities in the Sparrows Point area associated with their offshore wind project off Ocean City, Md. As part of the visit, representatives from US Wind brought leaders from Ventower Industries, Heavy Metal, Inc. and JDR Cable Systems to a meeting with top officials from the Maryland Department of Commerce.

Over the last several months, US Wind has previously hosted supply chain companies from around the globe at several information meetings held in Baltimore and Salisbury, Md. US Wind officials say that Baltimore and Maryland's lower Eastern Shore are particularly well-positioned to enjoy the economic benefits of bringing a vibrant new offshore wind industry to Maryland.

"US Wind isn't just trying to build a few wind turbines off the coast - we're trying to bring a new $16 billion net export industry sector to Maryland," said Paul Rich, director of project development. "Each new fabrication facility that we can bring to Maryland because of offshore wind will generate $30-50 million of investment in infrastructure and thousands of trained workers."

US Wind lead the industry and labor representatives on a tour today of the 3,100-acre former Sparrows Point steel mill, a site being redeveloped by Tradepoint Atlantic. According to US Wind, the Tradepoint Atlantic site is uniquely positioned to become the hub of offshore wind industrial activity for the entire East Coast of the United States for generations to come.

"US Wind is going to put a lot of skilled ironworkers to work in Maryland and we'll have them trained and ready to perform," said Will Beckman, Ironworkers Local 16.

"Now is the time to bring back steel manufacturing and fabrication to Maryland," said Jeremy Moses, President of Heavy Metal Corp. "Offshore wind is coming to the Atlantic Coast, and we want to be part of this exciting new industry."

"A partnership between JDR Cables and US Wind will strengthen Maryland in Baltimore and Salisbury as a national offshore wind business hub and support additional job creation," said David Currie, CEO of JDR Cable Systems. "We are thrilled to be part of this exciting Maryland project."

"Ventower Industries is excited about the opportunity to work with US Wind and our local partners to build and expand the supply chain for the growing offshore wind industry here in the United States," said Gregory Adanin, president and CEO.

US Wind is one of two developers whose applications for a Maryland offshore wind farm are being considered by the Public Service Commission (PSC) during a 180-day period, which began on November 28. All applications to the PSC are required to meet criteria spelled out in the 2013 Maryland Offshore Wind Energy Act. US Wind's application is the only one that utilizes the designated Maryland Offshore Wind Area and was determined to be administratively complete by the Public Service Commission and to have met all ratepayers' safeguard criteria.