Last week, the Maryland Public Service Commission chose Skipjack Wind 2, an offshore wind clean energy proposal from Danish corporation Ørsted, for an 846-megawatt project on the Atlantic’s continental shelf to power 250,000 homes in Delmarva. Skipjack Wind 2 is Ørsted’s second project in Maryland, located adjacent to the company’s 120 MW Skipjack Wind 1.
Ørsted will build Skipjack Wind 1 and 2 as one project, with electricity generation and transmission to customers expected to begin in 2026. The edge of the combined Skipjack project area closest to the shore lies over 20 miles from the Maryland-Delaware border and 26 miles from the Ocean City pier. At its closest distance, Skipjack Wind 1 will be approximately 19 miles off the Delaware shore. Together, Skipjack 1 and 2 will play a significant role in helping Maryland reach its goal of installing at least 1,200 MW of offshore wind energy by 2030.
“Skipjack Wind 2 will contribute significantly to Maryland’s goal of sourcing 50 percent of its power from renewable energy sources by 2030, while positioning Maryland as a long-term offshore wind energy manufacturing hub. We look forward to delivering on our commitments now and well into the future, so that Maryland residents benefit from offshore wind for decades to come,” said David Hardy, CEO of Ørsted Offshore North America.
Ørsted has been collaborating with local businesses since 2017. Skipjack Wind 2 will generate approximately $510 million in supply chain investments in Maryland and create thousands of jobs, including in manufacturing, operations, and maintenance. For example, Ørsted is already developing Maryland’s first offshore wind operations and maintenance facility in West Ocean City. It will include a fleet of vessels purpose-built in the United States for these challenging tasks, with designs rooted in the company’s considerable experience of gnarly sea conditions on Europe’s North Sea. In addition, Ørsted is collaborating with Hellenic Cables SA to establish the U.S.’s first fully integrated array cable manufacturing facility in Maryland. The company will also help develop a world-class offshore wind tower steel fabrication center at Crystal Steel Fabricators in Federalsburg, aiming to produce 100 turbine towers each year.
These investments further strengthen Maryland’s position as an economic and technical offshore wind energy hub, supporting the growing U.S. industry and the international market. These investments in the region’s port and manufacturing facilities will help position the state to become a training center for the industry’s new workforce.
As the global leader in offshore wind, Ørsted will serve as a long-term partner, creating quality jobs and new business opportunities while investing in local communities. Ørsted expects to commission Skipjack Wind 2 in 2026.
-John Page Williams
