Deepwater Wind sets sights on new offshore wind farm

DECEMBER 4, 2016—With the Block Island Wind Farm set to begin producing electricity in a matter of days, project developer Deepwater Wind has already set its sights on its next location—Ocean City, MD.

Last month Deepwater Wind announced it had secured the rights to acquire a federal lease for a site more than 17 nautical miles northeast of Ocean City’s coastline. Called the Skipjack Wind Farm, the project would be four times larger than the Block Island Wind Farm, producing 120 MW of power.

“We’re bringing down the cost of American offshore wind energy in a big way,” says Deepwater Wind CEO Jeffrey Grybowski. “Ratepayers in Maryland will benefit from energy that is both clean and affordable. The Skipjack Wind Farm is the right clean energy solution for Maryland, and we’re ready to get to work.”

Deepwater Wind has filed an application with the Maryland Public Service Commission for approval of the Skipjack Wind Farm. If approved, local construction work could begin as early as 2020, with the project in operations in 2022.

While there were 3,344 offshore wind turbines installed and grid connected in Europe as the first half of 2016, Deepwater Wind is the only company to construct an offshore wind farm in the U.S. Deepwater Wind’s five turbine, 30 MW Block Island Wind Farm will be the first in the U.S. begin commercial operations. The company is also in the early stages of development of its South Fork Wind Farm, a 90 MW offshore wind farm located in federal waters 30 miles east of Montauk, NY, that is scheduled to become operational in 2022.