US Wind, Inc., proposes to develop an offshore wind energy project offshore of Maryland with power lines from the project proposed to come ashore at 3Rs Beach in Delaware Seashore State Park and interconnect into a proposed substation to be built adjacent to the Indian River Power Plant.

Building the offshore wind turbines for the project will require a federal permitting process (separate from any state process). Bringing the power lines ashore in Delaware will require permits and authorizations from the state of Delaware — from the DNREC Divisions of Water and Watershed Stewardship.

DNREC will hold a Public Information Session on the project on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, at 4 p.m., at Beacon Middle School in Lewes. The Department will conduct a Joint Virtual Public Hearing on the required Delaware permits and authorizations on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, at 6 p.m.

The Proposed Project

US Wind, Inc., proposes to develop a commercial-scale, offshore wind energy project in the lease area known as Lease OCS–A 0490 offshore of Maryland.

The proposed project is comprised of up to 121 wind turbine generators, up to four offshore substations, up to four offshore/onshore export cables, and one meteorological tower, in a gridded array pattern distributed across the Lease Area.

Portions of the proposed export cables are located under state-regulated wetlands and subaqueous lands in the Atlantic Ocean within Delaware state waters and the Indian River Bay.

The offshore/onshore export cables are proposed to land at 3R’s Beach near the parking lot and potential dune environments and to interconnect into a proposed substation to be constructed on tax parcel 233-2.00-2.01 adjacent to the Indian River Power Plant in Sussex County, Delaware.

Required Delaware Permits and Authorizations

The proposed project will require the following permits/authorizations from DNREC for the proposed installation of cable ducts and offshore/onshore export cables using horizontal direction drilling, dredging and trenching, and for the proposed construction of a transition vault using horizontal directional drilling.

Division of Water

Subaqueous Lands Permit/Lease

The proposed project impacting state-regulated subaqueous lands (starting at the 3-mile jurisdictional line) is comprised of up to four transmission cables and will terminate into a proposed substation to be constructed on tax parcel 233-2.00-2.01 adjacent to the Indian River Power Plant in Sussex County, Delaware. Additionally, the applicant proposes to conduct dredging to facilitate construction of the offshore wind project and associated infrastructure in the Indian River, Sussex County, DE.

Wetlands Permit

The applicant proposes to temporarily place a pipeline associated with the proposed dredging activities across state-regulated tidal wetlands, to transport dredge material to an upland confined disposal facility adjacent to the Indian River, Sussex County, DE.

Water Quality Certification

Water Quality Certification is required for the dredging associated with the United States Army Corps of Engineers permitting for the construction of the proposed offshore wind project and associated infrastructure. The applicant requests a Section §401 Water Quality Certification. Approval is being requested to conduct dredging within the Indian River, Sussex County, DE.

Documents for Review

For more information on how you can inspect a physical copy of these documents, please contact Matt Jones via email at matthew.jones@delaware.gov or via phone at 302-739-9385.

Division of Watershed Stewardship

Beach Preservation Coastal Construction Permit

The applicant seeks authority under the Beach Preservation Act to utilize directional drilling for the installation of export cables and to construct four transition vaults in the 3R’s parking lot in Delaware Seashore State Park, Sussex County.

Documents for Review

• Coastal Construction Application

For information on how you can inspect a physical copy of this application, please contact Jennifer Pongratz via email at jennifer.pongratz@delaware.gov or via phone at 302-608-5502.

Related Topics:  offshore wind, permitting and regulation, water, watershed