Maryland's green energy economy faces uncertainty as Wes Moore departs for a billionaire's summer retreat
US Wind, an offshore wind developer, has made significant strides in its Maryland project, securing key environmental permits and federal approvals, setting it on a path towards construction. The project, a 1.7 GW (1,710 MW) development off the coast near Ocean City, is anticipated to power around 80,000 homes and create over 1,300 jobs in the state, including more than 550 high-paying union steelworker jobs at the Sparrows Point Steel manufacturing site.
The project, however, faces ongoing legal challenges. In July 2025, a federal court allowed five major legal claims against US Wind to proceed, related to environmental concerns under acts such as the Endangered Species Act and National Environmental Policy Act. These lawsuits contend that environmental risks, especially to endangered North Atlantic Right Whales, were insufficiently addressed during the approval process.
US Wind controls an approximately 80,000-acre federal lease area off the coast of Maryland. Despite this, Nancy Sopko, vice president of external affairs at US Wind, acknowledged that the company's Tradepoint Atlantic fabrication construction site is a work in progress. Sopko stated that the state has approved US Wind's plans to increase the size of its offshore wind project, making it the largest new power project in the region.
A key part of the Maryland Public Service Commission's (PSC) approval of US Wind's application for its offshore energy projects involves the company building essential parts of the nearly 1,000-foot-tall wind turbines in Maryland. US Wind's CEO announced that the first phase of wind turbines would be operational by 2025, including at the Sparrows Point Steel site.
Maryland's Governor, Wes Moore, has pledged to transition the state to 100% green energy by 2035. Three months after Moore took office, he praised the US Wind project and reaffirmed his commitment to green energy by signing three related bills near the US Wind turbine construction site, aimed at advancing offshore wind generation projects.
The project's potential impact on job creation has attracted attention. Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md., expressed concern about the discovery that no federal grant funds have been used for the development of US Wind's Tradepoint Atlantic site. Harris stated that offshore wind is one of the most expensive ways to generate electricity, and he considers the pursuit of offshore wind a foolish waste of money.
Despite these concerns, US Wind launched a partner company, Sparrows Point Steel, promising to create more than 550 high-paying union jobs for steelworkers at the Patapsco River shipping site. Jim Strong, the United Steelworkers Union's offshore wind sector assistant, stated that as of Tuesday, no steelworker jobs have started at the US Wind construction site at Tradepoint Atlantic.
The U.S. Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration and Baltimore County's spokesperson did not respond to questions about the status of the federal grant and the grant's expenditure, respectively. Rep. Harris has called for the reopening of the federal bidding process for such energy projects.
In summary, US Wind’s Maryland offshore wind project is fully permitted and moving toward construction with a strong emphasis on local job creation, but it faces legal and environmental scrutiny that could affect its timeline and progress. The project's potential to power homes and create jobs has sparked debate, with some questioning the cost and efficiency of offshore wind generation, while others emphasise its role in Maryland's transition to green energy.
- The renewable-energy industry is facing legal challenges in the Maryland offshore wind project initiated by US Wind, as five major lawsuits have been allowed to proceed, citing insufficient addressing of environmental concerns.
- Amidst these legal issues, US Wind, being in control of an approximately 80,000-acre federal lease area off Maryland's coast, has made progress with the state's approval for an increase in the size of its offshore wind project, making it the largest new power project in the region.
- Maryland's policy-and-legislation, particularly the Maryland Public Service Commission's approval, requires US Wind to build essential parts of the nearly 1,000-foot-tall wind turbines in Maryland, and the first phase of these wind turbines is planned to be operational by 2025, backed by investments from the finance sector.
