A Key Step Forward For Offshore Wind In Maryland The Obama Administration Announces

BALTIMORE—Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced a major step toward developing wind energy off the coasts of Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware, and Virginia this morning. Joined by Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Director Tommy P. Beaudreau in Baltimore, Secretary Salazar announced that the environmental review of the proposed areas for wind development found no significant impacts, signaling a step closer to wind turbines spinning off our coasts.

Environment Maryland Field Organizer Ewa Krason issued the following statement in response:

“There is tremendous potential for producing clean, pollution-free wind energy off of Maryland’s coast. We are thrilled that the Obama administration has announced another critical step in making this vision a reality.

“Tapping into the power of offshore wind in Maryland is vital to getting our state and the nation off fossil fuels without creating more pollution. A report released by Environment America and the National Wildlife Federation shows that along the Atlantic coast alone, reaching the Department of Energy’s conservative goal of 54 gigawatts of offshore wind power would reduce global warming pollution by the equivalent of taking nearly 18 million cars off the road. A bold commitment to clean energy such as offshore wind would also significantly reduce harmful air pollution and reduce the risk of oil spills and other fossil fuel-related disasters.

“We applaud this step forward and the Obama administration for their leadership in ensuring that responsibly-sited offshore wind becomes a reality in Maryland as soon as possible.”