Information Session Held to Present Details on DNREC Permit Process for US Wind Project
Offshore wind developer US Wind, Inc. has submitted multiple permit applications to the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control for its wind energy project offshore from Maryland. DNREC held a public information session to inform the public and engage Delawareans in the regulatory process. The Talk of Delmarva’s Joe Ciccanti has more…
The informational session was to help area residents understand more about the permit process, as US Wind’s proposal requires a number of permits and authorizations from lots of different organizations including DNREC. The public comment period has been open since April 28th. Anyone can send a comment via email, write it in or submit it online. In case you missed the session or couldn’t make it, all of the materials are online as Chief Communications Officer Nikki Lavoie tells the Talk of Delmarva…
All of these materials including permits as well as public comments -are online at US Wind Project – DNREC (delaware.gov).
The offshore/onshore export cables are proposed to land at Delaware Seashore State Park’s 3R’s Beach parking lot near the DNREC building line and potential dune environments. It would interconnect into a proposed substation to be constructed on a tax parcel adjacent to the Indian River power plant in Sussex County. Portions of the proposed wind power export cables would be located under state-regulated wetlands and subaqueous lands in the Atlantic Ocean within Delaware state waters and the Indian River Bay. The proposed cabling covers 15.2 miles.
The public information session will provide Delawareans the opportunity to review US Wind’s permit applications for the proposed connector cables and substation. US Wind requires authorizations from two DNREC divisions (see as follows):
- Subaqueous Lands Permit – Division of Water
- Water Quality Certification – Division of Water
- Wetlands Permit – Division of Water
- Beach Preservation Coastal Construction Permit – Division of Watershed Stewardship
Written comments for the record will be accepted from now until Sept. 9, 2024 via email to DNRECHearingComments@delaware.gov; by using the online form at de.gov/dnreccomments; or by U.S. mail to Lisa A. Vest, Hearing Officer, Office of the Secretary, Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901. Social media or text messaging platforms will not be accepted for submission to the record.
For additional details about the project, along with related documents, the public is encouraged to visit DNREC’s website at de.gov/uswind.
