Resources & FAQs 

Skipjack Wind is a 966-megawatt offshore wind energy project that will power over 300,000 homes in the region and create significant economic opportunities for local businesses.  Skipjack Wind is scheduled to be operational in the second quarter of 2026.

Skipjack Wind will be designed and built by Ørsted, the global leader in offshore wind energy. In the United States, Ørsted operates the Block Island Wind Farm, America’s first offshore wind farm, and constructed the two-turbine Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind pilot project – the first turbines to be installed in federal waters. Ørsted has secured nearly 5,000 megawatts of additional capacity through six projects in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. Ørsted Offshore’s North American business is jointly headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts and Providence, Rhode Island and employs approximately 250 people.

A number of U.S. states and the federal government are actively encouraging offshore wind growth due to its immense economic and environmental benefits. Maryland authorized at least 1,200 additional megawatts of offshore wind energy as part of the 2019 Clean Energy Jobs Act, and the federal government has set a goal of more than 44,000 workers employed in offshore wind by 2030 and nearly 33,000 additional jobs in communities supported by offshore wind activity.

Skipjack Wind will connect to PJM, a regional electric grid serving several states.  Ørsted is currently evaluating critical components of the project, such as cable landfall and interconnection location. We look forward to continuing discussions about cable landfall and interconnection and receiving feedback directly from communities and stakeholders. Ørsted is committed to a transparent process in making these important decisions and will engage stakeholders at all levels before any final decisions are made.

Though contingent on several factors including site investigation, permitting approval, project award, and stakeholder input, Ørsted projects that Skipjack Wind will require 69 turbine positions. In its proposal to the Maryland Public Service Commission, Ørsted utilizes the GE Haliade 14.7MW turbine which has the same physical dimensions at the 12MW turbine that was approved for use by the Commission in August 2020: the nacelle/hub height is approximately 550 feet from the waterline, blades are approximately 300 feet in length, total maximum height is approximately 850 feet from the waterline.

Turbines will be spaced at 0.8 nautical miles X 0.8 nautical miles (approximately 1 statute mile X 1 statute mile). Except for construction related closures for safety reasons, the wind farm will be open for navigation and fishing.

The federal government, in consultation with state and local governments and stakeholders, determined the shape and boundaries of the lease area. From north to south, the western boundary of the lease area moves away from shore. At its closest point, north of Rehoboth Beach, the western-most boundary is approximately 13 miles from shore. At its southernmost and farthest point, the westernmost boundary is approximately 21 miles from shore.

However, those boundaries should not be taken as an accurate representation of turbine placement. Ørsted has agreed to a two-mile set back against the commercial shipping lane along the western and northern borders; turbine placement will also be subject to site investigation and project awards.

For the purposes of Skipjack Wind distance to shore is dependent on location given the shape of the lease area relative to shore. At their closest, turbines are projected to be 15-16 miles from the DE coast and 20 miles from Maryland.

Under certain weather conditions, turbines may be faintly visible from shore.