The project that could become Maryland’s first offshore wind farm would have few “major” environmental impacts, according to an impact statement made available this week.
If the offshore wind farm is approved, it could generate between 1,100 and 2,200 megawatts of renewable energy, enough to power up to 770,000 homes on the Delmarva Peninsula, according to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
And while the wind farm would be visible from the shore — a significant source of angst and concern for some — federal officials found the project, as proposed, would have only a few major impacts in areas including water quality, air pollution and wildlife.
Among the findings:
- Constructing the wind farm will create some temporary air pollution, but construction will result in a net decrease in emissions compared to constructing a traditional power plant.
- Coastal habitats and fauna would only see minor localized impacts that are mostly temporary.
- While some marine mammals may be adversely affected by the construction of the wind farm, the report does not anticipate any population-level effects.
- Commercial fishing operations are expected to be OK, with the report saying most vessels would need only to adjust their operations somewhat to account for disruptions related to the project.
- The report anticipates short-term negative effects on tourism because of noise and vessel traffic related to construction, but also anticipates beneficial impacts from sightseeing related to the wind farm.
- The project would have only “minor” impacts on overall water quality.
- The project would overall be OK for birds — and could even increase foraging opportunities for marine birds.
Major impacts are expected on “visual resources,” meaning the view from parts of the coast would change. According to the report, the offshore wind farm would be “an unavoidable presence in views from the coastline, with moderate to major effects on seascape and landscape character,” depending on where a person is looking.
In an email, Nancy Sopko, the senior director of external affairs for US Wind, said the company hopes to start some onshore construction work in 2025. US Wind was not surprised by the federal government’s report, she wrote.
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“US Wind designed the projects to be protective of natural and socioeconomic resources by including hundreds of ‘mitigation measures,’ such as significantly reducing sound underwater during construction to protect marine mammals,” Sopko said.
The review “carefully considered the best available science and information provided by Tribes, other government agencies, local communities, industry, ocean users, and environmental organizations,” BOEM Director Elizabeth Klein said in a statement.
The project under review is from US Wind, which has a three-phase plan for getting offshore wind operational in Maryland. Jeff Grybowski, US Wind’s CEO, said in a statement that the company is a step closer to having the project’s federal permits in place by the end of the year.
The publication of the environmental review comes shortly after Gov. Wes Moore announced a memorandum of understanding between the state and the federal government to advance offshore wind goals.
Officials in Maryland have lofty goals for offshore wind — including generating 8.5 gigawatts of electricity through it by 2031 — but there have been industrywide headwinds.
The full environmental review can be found on the BOEM website. Once it appears in the federal register, BOEM will make a decision on which path US Wind can pursue, if any, in constructing the offshore wind farm, after a 30-day waiting period.
Other federal and state agencies are “expected to render favorable decisions” on the project by the end of the year, according to US Wind.
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