House of Delegates Passes Offshore Wind Bill

The Maryland House of Delegates voted 88-47 on Friday for a scaled-back measure to help develop offshore wind off the coast of Ocean City in as soon as five years.

Democratic Gov. Martin O’Malley is backing the legislation again this year after it failed last year over concerns about its costs.

Supporters, who say offshore wind has great potential to create jobs and reduce pollution, emphasized during debate that this bill is very different. Residential utility customers would pay about $1.50 a month if offshore wind turbines are developed. For commercial ratepayers, rate increases have been reduced from 2.5 percent to 1.5 percent.

Delegate Benjamin Kramer, D-Montgomery, pointed out that the risk of financing wind turbines will be on the developer, not ratepayers.

“Yes, there may be a small — a small — increase to Maryland’s ratepayers, but the potential for reducing our carbon footprint is dramatic,” Kramer said.

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