The project is called Olympic Wind and is the product of Washington-based offshore wind developer Trident Winds. The proposal aims to generate 2,000 megawatts of electricity that could power approximately 800,000 homes. The wind farm would be located 43 miles off the coast of Grays Harbor County, Washington, potentially making it the first commercial-scale offshore wind project in the state. 

If realized, Olympic Wind would help Washington reach the requirement that its utilities get at least 80 percent of their electricity from carbon-free resources by 2030, and 100 percent in 2045. It could also contribute to the Biden Administration’s goal of developing 30 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2030. 

The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is reviewing the plan and will work with Indigenous tribes, the state of Washington, and others on next steps.

Energywire notes that the project is likely to face pushback from various fronts, including the local commercial fishing industry, the Department of Defense, and tribes such as the Quinault Indian Nation. Trident is aiming to begin construction of the project in 2028, with the project starting operations two years later.