US Wind, an offshore wind developer, has announced a significant $20 million investment package to support commercial fishing operations in Maryland and Delaware through agreements with their respective environmental agencies. The investment, described as one of the region’s largest commitments to commercial fishing, will be distributed with $13.5 million allocated to Maryland’s Fishing Community Resilience Fund and the remainder to Delaware’s Multi-Use Fishing Community Resilience Fund. The comprehensive package includes funding for harbor maintenance, grants for fishing businesses, gear innovation, seafood marketing, and a $5.4 million claims-based compensation fund for fishermen who can demonstrate revenue losses due to US Wind projects. The agreement, signed with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, aims to balance clean energy development with fishing industry support, while also providing over $1 million for navigation and crew safety improvements near the windfarms. As part of the development, US Wind will establish an Operations and Maintenance facility at West Ocean City Harbor, using one of its two optioned properties to coordinate turbine servicing and support. More information can be found here.
