Maryland Senate Still MIA On Offshore Wind Bill

ANNAPOLIS — As the clock ticks down on the final day of Maryland’s legislative session, neither the Maryland Senate Finance Committee nor the full Senate has acted on the Maryland Offshore Wind Energy Act of 2012 (SB 237/ HB 441), a bill championed by Governor Martin O’Malley. The hold-up persists even as the bill has already passed the House of Delegates with a vote of 88–47, has received strong majority support in numerous statewide polls, and has been supported by a number of grassroots organizations, business and faith groups, and minority businesses across the state.

“The climate isn’t waiting for Maryland to act. Other states aren’t waiting. They’re not waiting to create offshore wind power jobs, to save lives and stem the tide of dangerous, costly extreme weather events in their states. For the sake of our children and grandchildren—and for our own sake today—Maryland should not throw away this opportunity at such a critical time,” said Tommy Landers, Director of Environment Maryland, speaking on behalf of the Marylanders for Offshore Wind coalition.

“Let’s remember that this bill has been carefully crafted to protect Maryland consumers as much as possible, to promote Maryland businesses as much as possible, and to provide real opportunities and significant resources to minority-owned businesses in our state. That’s why this bill passed handily out of the House, with near-unanimous support from the Legislative Black Caucus. That’s why civic leaders and grassroots groups throughout the state want this bill so badly,” said Mike Tidwell, Director of Chesapeake Climate Action Network, another coalition member.

“We commend the leadership of Gov. O’Malley, Chairman Dereck Davis and Chairman Mac Middleton, as well as leaders like Sen. Paul Pinsky and Del. Tom Hucker. And we applaud everyone in the House of Delegates who voted for this landmark bill. There’s still time for this legislation to cross the goal line, and we’d be severely disappointed if the Maryland Senate couldn’t make that happen today,” said Jen Brock-Cancellieri of the Maryland League of Conservation Voters, another member of the coalition.

In terms of minority business groups, the bill has the support of the NAACP MD State Conference, the Prince George's County Branch of the NAACP, the Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Baltimore Black Chamber of Commerce, the Economic Development and Training Institute, the Maryland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and the Southern Maryland Consortium of African American Community Organizations.

In addition, over 30 potential supply-chain businesses in Maryland support the Business Coalition for Maryland Offshore Wind including minority owned businesses like D & T Welding Company in Baltimore and large manufacturers like Cambridge International on the Eastern Shore.

Over the past few months, 132 business, civic, faith and minority leaders in Prince George’s County have declared their support for Maryland offshore wind power. That includes a dozen groups like the NAACP’s county chapter and the Economic Development and Training Institute, 79 small businesses and 41 faith leaders and ministers.

The bill has seen a flurry of action from supporters in the weeks leading up to these votes. Last Friday, April 7, business leaders from across the state gathered in front of the State House to declare strong support for the legislation, citing the jobs they expect to see from the construction of offshore wind turbine parts in Maryland.

“We believe in the importance of renewable energy. It’s healthier for us, and it’s better for our environment. But we are thrilled about the limitless opportunities that offshore wind energy production can bring to women-owned and minority-owned businesses and to the entire state,” said Lance Lucas, President of the Greater Baltimore Black Chamber of Commerce, as well as Board Member of LITSOM -- Legislation In The State Of Maryland (LITSOM).

On Monday, April 2, approximately 500 Marylanders joined hands to form a "circle of support" around the Maryland State House in support of the offshore wind power legislation. And the week before, supporters released a pair of studies touting the many benefits of offshore wind power for the state.

One study, a report entitled “What Offshore Wind Means for Maryland Environmental, Economic and Public Health Benefits Across the State” by Environment Maryland Research & Policy Center, showed region-specific benefits throughout the state. For instance, the entire ecosystem of the Chesapeake Bay will benefit as offshore wind’s clean power helps to reduce global warming pollution, stabilizing water temperatures that determine whether rockfish, oysters and crabs can survive in the bay.

A second study, an analysis by IHS Global Insight, was hailed by the Maryland State Conference of the NAACP and minority business community leaders. The analysis found that a robust offshore wind industry in Maryland will contribute over $2.25 billion to the state’s Gross State Product and create 21,000 jobs in the state.

The Maryland Offshore Wind Energy Act of 2012 incentivizes the construction of ocean-based wind turbines ten miles or more off the coast of Ocean City, Maryland. The legislation includes multiple provisions to protect consumers and to stimulate Maryland’s economy. The bill requires that offshore wind power developers demonstrate that their projects will produce a positive net economic and environmental benefit for the state. The bill is modeled on an approach already adopted by New Jersey’s state legislature with bipartisan support.

The Marylanders for Offshore Wind Coalition includes the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, the Sierra Club Maryland Chapter, Environment Maryland, the National Wildlife Federation, the Maryland League of Conservation Voters, the League of Women Voters, the Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry, and Greater Washington Interfaith Power & Light.