Ørsted submits bid in response to Maryland’s call for offshore wind projects

Ørsted, the global leader in offshore wind development, announced today that it has submitted a bid to the Maryland Public Service Commission to develop Skipjack Wind 2, a proposed project of up to 760 MW. The bid is in response to the Commission’s call for proposals for Round 2 offshore wind projects, through which the Commission can award at least 1,200 MW of Offshore Wind Renewable Energy Credits. The new project will power over 250,000 Delmarva homes.

About Skipjack Wind 2:
“Ørsted is privileged to already be a long-term partner to the state of Maryland as it works to meet its offshore wind goals,” said David Hardy, CEO of Ørsted Offshore North America. “We are proud to build, own, and operate wind farms across the world and will bring that same approach to Maryland. As such, these at least 30-year commitments we are making to the state are designed to provide long-term benefits to all of the communities that will be home to our facilities. In continuing to deliver on our commitments now, and well into the future, we will ensure that Maryland’s offshore wind industry will thrive for decades to come.”

• As the global leader in offshore wind development, with the largest portfolio of projects in development in the United States, Ørsted is uniquely positioned to support the State of Maryland in reaching its offshore wind goals.

• Ørsted’s proposal is designed to support the successful development of Skipjack Wind 2 while also committing to significant manufacturing operations that will enable the State to establish itself as a significant player in the offshore wind supply chain.

• Ørsted is committed to environmental justice initiatives that will help ensure that the state’s overburdened and underserved communities have equal access to the incredible opportunities presented by the offshore wind industry. In partnership with local school districts, communities, and universities, the project will provide significant resources to support the development of innovative Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) programming as well as comprehensive workforce training initiatives.

• Building on Ørsted’s landmark agreement with the North American Building Trades Union (NABTU), and the Baltimore - D.C. Metro Building and Construction Trades Council, the project has committed to bringing organized labor into both the onshore and offshore construction of this thriving industry. Our continued collaboration and workforce development initiatives with unions will ensure a well-trained and ready workforce.

• Globally, Ørsted has a goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2025. In pursuit of this goal, the project also commits to pursue a zero emissions operations and maintenance facility and program.

• Ørsted will significantly expand the availability of grant funding for local eNGOs in Maryland and Delaware. Through its mission to lead industry-wide sustainability efforts, the project will support the critical efforts of those organizations to protect, preserve, and restore the region’s world-class coastal habitat and environment.

Ørsted is currently developing Skipjack Wind 1, a 120 MW project off the Maryland-Delaware coast that is scheduled to be operational by the second quarter of 2026. The project was awarded during Maryland’s first offshore wind solicitation, commonly referred to as Round 1, in May of 2017. Skipjack Wind 1 will create approximately 1,400 Maryland jobs, spur at least $200 million in Maryland economic investment, and generate enough clean energy to power 40,000 homes in the region.

Ørsted will be hosting a virtual open house on July 19, at 6 p.m. to answer questions from the public about the new expanded project.

Ørsted operates 28 offshore wind farms globally including America’s first offshore wind farm, the Block Island Wind Farm. Skipjack Wind 2 will help Maryland achieve ambitious renewable energy targets established by the Clean Energy Jobs Act of 2019, which states that 50 percent of Maryland’s energy must come from renewable energy sources by 2030.