Legislators Take Fresh Look At Offshore Wind Power For Maryland

ANNAPOLIS— The Maryland House Economic Matters Committee today held its first of several study sessions to discuss 2012 legislation that would lead to the development of offshore wind farms off Maryland’s Atlantic coast. While the committee will study a variety of topics in public meetings over the coming months, today’s session focused on the progress other states have made toward developing offshore wind farms and Maryland’s potential to move forward.

“States all along the east coast have moved further toward developing offshore wind since the end of the 2011 Maryland General Assembly session. The question is, will Maryland join the race or watch from the sidelines?” said Jim Strong, Sub-District Director for the United Steelworkers in Maryland.

Atlantic coast states have made significant steps on offshore wind in the last five months. [See below for more details on what’s happening in different states.] Massachusetts is farthest along and will likely be the first eastern seaboard state to construct an offshore wind farm. New York has more than 2,000 megawatts of offshore wind power in the development pipeline, and regulators in New Jersey are setting the stage for their first projects. New Jersey has seen broad bipartisan support for their offshore wind development efforts.

In Maryland, more than 1,000 businesses could have a role in the offshore wind supply chain. Maryland is also one of four states with initial federal offshore wind leasing areas that are close to being finalized.

“Make no mistake—this industry is coming to the United States, and it has tremendous potential for jobs and economic development. Maryland is in the heart of it, and we should be moving aggressively to make our state a central player,” said John Congedo, a native Marylander and president of AC~Wind, a wind energy manufacturing and services firm with a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Salisbury.

“We’re going to hire Marylanders to help create homegrown, Maryland energy. We’re opening the door, and it’s up to our elected officials in Annapolis to lead Marylanders through it into the 21^st century,” added Congedo.

Advocates for offshore wind energy added that job creation and economic development are just one of the many tangible benefits of investing in offshore wind power.

“Offshore wind works for Marylanders on a number of fronts. It works for Maryland workers by helping make our state a leader in this imminent American industry. It works for our families and children by preventing premature deaths linked with air pollution caused by burning fossil fuels. Wind works for our national security by helping to break our dependence on foreign oil. And it works for our climate by reducing global warming pollution,” said Tommy Landers, Campaign Director for Environment Maryland.