July 22, 2024 — The state conducted a public hearing July 9 on the permits needed by US Wind to connect its wind farm off the coast of Maryland to a proposed substation next to the Indian River power plant in Dagsboro. As has been the case since the beginning, public comment on the project was mixed.
US Wind’s project comprises up to 121 wind turbine generators, up to four offshore substations, up to four offshore export cables and one meteorological tower in ocean waters due east of Ocean City, Md. The offshore export cables are proposed to land at 3R’s Beach, north of Bethany Beach, and interconnect into a proposed substation that would be constructed on land adjacent to the Indian River power plant.
Two representatives from Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control and one representative from US Wind made brief presentations on the permits needed and construction details. To make the connection work, the company would horizontally drill 60 feet under the beach and dune at 3R’s; build four vaults that are each 47 feet long, 12 feet wide and 11 feet deep in the beach parking lot; then horizontally drill west from the vaults under Indian River Bay before coming up at the power plant. In addition to the parking lot construction area, which is supposed to return to its as-is condition except for four manhole covers, and horizontal drilling, dredging in the coves near the plant requires permitting. In all, the company needs DNREC’s approval for a subaqueous lands permit, a water-quality certification, a wetlands permit and a beach preservation coastal construction permit.
Read the full article at the Cape Gazette