By Anders Lorenzen

In recent years, the US has gone big on becoming a key player in developing offshore wind projects.

The state of Maryland is one of many states hoping to benefit from the US offshore wind rush. Last week its governor Wes Moore announced targets to quadruple the offshore wind capacity in the state to 8.5 gigawatts (GW) – equivalent to powering nearly three million homes –  as part of its efforts to achieve 100% clean energy by 2035.

Apart from the offshore wind areas already under lease, Maryland wants to establish new lease areas alongside strengthening its offshore wind supply chain. It also wants to set up grants to support this effort, the governor’s office announced.

To scale up for the offshore wind industry in the state, the former site of the Bethlehem Steel plant in Baltimore is to be used as a logistics hub for wind turbines which it is estimated would create 15,000 jobs,

Maryland is expected to release plans to achieve entirely carbon-free energy in the coming years.

A bonanza of offshore wind projects

Over the next six years, plans are already confirmed to construct 6.1 GW of offshore wind capacity in Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, New York State, Ohio, Rhode Island and Virginia. 

Even though the US has worked hard on entering the offshore wind market over the last two decades, they still only have 41 megawatts (MW) of installed capacity. This is hopefully set to change with several GW projects already under construction and many more under consent and planning.