The Baltimore County Offshore Wind Manufacturing Hub is set to receive approximately $47 million from the Port Infrastructure Program of the US Department of Transportation Maritime Administration. The funding aims to propel the development of the hub at Tradepoint Atlantic, enhancing its capabilities in the offshore wind sector.
The announcement, made on November 7 by US Congressman Kweisi Mfume and Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, along with Congressmen Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, and Jamie Raskin, disclosed that the funding was allocated through the Maritime Administration's Port Infrastructure Development Program for the fiscal year 2023.
These federal funds will be utilized to prepare the former site of the Bethlehem Steel shipyard and the future location of Sparrows Point Steel, Maryland's inaugural permanent offshore wind component factory, for handling heavy cargo onsite.
US Wind, the developer behind the MarWin and Momentum Wind projects in Maryland, partnered with Haizea Wind Group in March to oversee the management and operation of Sparrows Steel. The new facility in Baltimore County is designated for the manufacturing of steel components crucial to the US offshore wind industry, including monopiles and towers. US Wind is anticipated to be among the initial beneficiaries, procuring components from this factory.
The allocated funds will also contribute to site remediation and environmental activities. Lawmakers highlighted that these investments, facilitated by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, aim to revitalize manufacturing jobs in the US and specifically in Maryland. The funds are expected to fortify Baltimore as a competitive manufacturing hub for offshore wind, positioning the region as a key player in clean energy growth.
In addition to fostering an estimated 500 union jobs and providing sought-after storage space, the project aligns with broader initiatives to establish Maryland as an innovation hub for clean energy and offshore wind manufacturing.
