A Zombie US Offshore Wind Project Fights For Life

The Maryland Offshore Wind Project, a 2-gigawatt initiative led by US Wind—a Baltimore-based subsidiary of the Italian firm Renexia SpA in partnership with US asset manager Apollo Global Management—continues to advance through the federal permitting process despite significant political and regulatory challenges. Although US President Donald Trump pledged to curtail the US offshore wind industry and has taken actions to halt or delay projects, the Maryland project has persisted, reflecting the long-term nature of such developments. US Wind and Maryland Governor Wes Moore remain committed to moving forward, even as legal battles and appeals complicate progress. The project has faced criticism due to its foreign ownership, but foreign involvement in US energy projects is historically common. The permitting process has been lengthy and complex, with US Wind waiting over 13 years since its formation in 2011 to develop the offshore lease awarded by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) in 2014. Key milestones were reached in late 2023, including approvals for