US Government to Scrap 2.2 GW Maryland Offshore Wind Project Permit

The US government has taken steps to revoke approval for the 2.2 gigawatt (GW) Maryland Offshore Wind Project, raising concerns over regulatory certainty for offshore wind developers.

Overview

The Maryland Offshore Wind Project, led by developer US Wind Inc., was approved in December 2024 following an environmental assessment and permitting under the Biden administration. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) granted approval, allowing construction of the large-scale wind farm off the coast of Maryland.[1].

The scheme has faced strong opposition from the Mayor and City Council of Ocean City, a resort town in Maryland, who argue that offshore turbines could negatively impact tourism, fisheries, and coastal views.[2].

Figure 1: Wind Turbines in the Sea. [3]

The Latest

In August 2025, the U.S. Department of the Interior requested that courts vacate the project’s approved Construction & Operations Plan. The Department argues that the original approval underestimated potential risks to:

• Search and rescue operations
• Helicopter safety
• Commercial fisheries

This follows litigation initiated by Ocean City. In response, US Wind has filed counterclaims, stating that attempts to revoke the permit are arbitrary, politically motivated, and unlawful under the Administrative Procedure Act.[4].

If the motion is successful, the project’s permit would be withdrawn and returned to BOEM for reconsideration.

What This Means

The case highlights significant uncertainty for offshore wind developers. With large-scale projects requiring long lead times and substantial investment, the possibility of federal permits being rescinded increases both financial and political risk for investors and supply chain partners.

For local communities, the dispute reflects ongoing tensions between renewable energy development and concerns about economic impacts from tourism and fishing.[5]

If the government’s motion is granted, BOEM will reassess the permit under revised standards, potentially halting the development entirely. This could set a precedent for how existing approvals can be revisited by future administrations. 

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References

[1] Renewables Now (2025a). US govt to vacate approval of 2.2-GW Maryland offshore wind project. Published 25 August 2025.

[2] Reuters (2025). US government plans to cancel approval of Maryland offshore wind project. Published 25 August 2025.

[3] Wind Turbines in the Sea, Enrique January 28th, 2022. Last accessed on 16th Sept 2025. Available at: https://www.pexels.com/photo/wind-turbines-in-the-sea-11001079/ 

[4] Renewables Now (2025b). US govt takes steps to scrap 2.2-GW Maryland offshore project permit. Published 15 September 2025.

[5] Reuters (2025). US government plans to cancel approval of Maryland offshore wind project. Published 25 August 2025https://www.pagerpower.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Maryland-wind-farm-thumbnail.jpeg