Environment and Energy

Wind Energy Breathing New Life into Sparrows Point

August 5, 2021

An offshore wind developer plans to breathe new life into Sparrows Point, former home to Bethlehem Steel, with ambitious plans for electricity-generating wind farms off the coast of Maryland.

Through a long-term lease agreement with Tradepoint Atlantic, the 3,300-acre multimodal logistics and industrial center that encompasses the former mill site, US Wind is investing $77 million to develop 90 waterfront acres into a new wind deployment hub. Now under way is its first major project, a 22-turbine wind farm known as MarWin. Also on the drawing board, pending permits and approvals, is the Momentum Wind project, which would develop up to an additional 1,200 MW of offshore wind energy.

The Momentum Wind proposal includes a new fabrication plant to be known as Sparrows Point Steel, Maryland’s first manufacturing facility dedicated to the creation of offshore wind foundations known as monopiles.

“Because of the successes we’ve achieved in the development of MarWin, US Wind is ready to offer Maryland its most ambitious clean energy project to date and, with it, the state’s first permanent offshore wind steel fabrication facility,” said Jeff Grybowski, US Wind CEO. “Developing Momentum Wind and Sparrows Point Steel at full capacity will give Maryland the opportunity to bring steel back to Baltimore and become the epicenter of offshore wind manufacturing.”

At full capacity, Momentum Wind would include up to 82 turbines and would be able to fully satisfy the state’s offshore wind energy goals.

“The combination of expanding offshore wind and welcoming steel back to Sparrows Point is truly a full-circle moment for Tradepoint Atlantic,” said Managing Director Kerry Doyle. “As Marylanders, we should be very proud – offshore wind is here, and steel is back.”

Sparrows Point Steel has the potential to be one of the largest offshore wind staging ports in the United States, its supporters claim. With significant marshaling and storage land, considerable quayside access, and an adjacent drydock, Sparrows Point Steel would be capable of staging and delivering several wind components, such as nacelles, towers and blades, as well as foundations.

The investment in Sparrows Point Steel will also create 500 permanent full-time manufacturing jobs. An agreement with the United Steelworkers to support the operations at Sparrows Point Steel has special historical relevance to both United Steelworkers and the greater Baltimore community. Bethlehem Steel, founded in the 1880s, was once among the largest mills in the country, employing some 30,000 workers. It filed for bankruptcy in 2001. “Sparrows Point has always been hallowed ground for me and my fellow Steelworkers,” said Jim Strong, Assistant to the Director, United Steelworkers. “We’re thrilled to be a part of US Wind’s visionary plans to bring steel back to Baltimore.”