An affiliate of US Wind has purchased land around the Indian River Power Plant.
According to Sussex County property records, Renewable Development purchased 142 acres from an affiliate of NRG Energy, owner of the Indian River Power Plant in the Dagsboro-Millsboro area. Renewable Development lists the same Baltimore address as US Wind.
Property records listed the sale price as $20 million. A spokesman for US Wind confirmed the sale has taken place.
Coastal Point, which first reported the sale, noted that the tract does not include the power plant. The site has room for solar panels and, perhaps, battery storage. More brownfield space could open once the plant and related coal-handling facilities are shut down.
US Wind is developing two wind power projects off the coasts of Maryland and far southern Delaware. Indian River is the site of the state’s only coal-fired power plant. The plant’s closing was delayed under a recommendation from regional grid operator PJM. NRG accepted the recommendation to operate the plant for a few years while strengthening the grid.
While the offshore wind was not mentioned, permitting was underway on both the US Wind and Ørsted projects off the coast.
Ratepayers will make up losses for the coal-fired plant, which is no longer cost-competitive with natural gas and renewable generation.
News of the sale came after Delaware Gov. John Carney announced that the state would negotiate with US Wind on an agreement that would bring lines ashore in Delaware and connect to the grid at the Indian River site. The state would receive energy credits, workforce development, and other assistance.
The agreement would be separate from the environmental assessment for the line coming ashore at 3R Beach in a state park area.
(See earlier story below on US Wind’s planned negotiations with the state).
