By LORRAINE MIRABELLA Baltimore Sun

A Caroline County steel fabricator will supply $70 million in wind turbine foundations for projects that offshore wind farm developer Ørsted plans to develop in the ocean off Maryland and New Jersey, state and company officials announced Thursday.

Ørsted’s agreement with Crystal Steel Fabricators in Federalsburg will establish the state’s first offshore wind steel fabrication center. The manufacturer plans to expand its workforce by a third, hiring 50 additional welders, fitters, machine operators, painters and truck drivers.

Workers will make steel components used to construct wind turbine foundations for all of Ørsted’s mid-Atlantic projects, which are designed to power at least 1.3 million homes with renewable energy.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan toured Crystal Steel’s plant Thursday, joining officials and workers of both companies for the announcement.

“Ørsted is a cutting-edge company that has made it their mission to create a world that runs on green energy, and they are progressing toward that goal by their continued investment here in Maryland,” said the Republican governor, calling the potential economic benefits “an absolute game-changer.”

“Offshore wind presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the state of Maryland to grow and diversify our economy and our energy portfolio,” Hogan said.

Crystal Steel said the manufacturer’s work, to start this month, will support a long-term supply chain for an expanding offshore wind industry.

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