Wind Power News: Maryland
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They are the products of the organizations or individuals noted and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch.
Clean jobs act triples offshore wind farm capacity; Resort officials express same concerns
OCEAN CITY – A bill that could essentially triple the capacity of wind energy off the coast of Maryland passed this week, causing resort officials to redouble their efforts to get the word out about the potential impact of the vast turbine fields. As the session expired this week, state lawmakers passed the Clean Jobs Act of 2019, language in which could allow for the expansion of offshore wind energy generated off the coast of Ocean City to 1,200 megawatts. Currently, . . . Complete story »
Delegates revive proposal to mandate that half of Maryland’s electricity come from renewable energy sources
A Maryland House of Delegates committee on Friday revived a proposal to mandate that half the state’s energy come from renewable sources. At the same time, the House Economic Matters Committee removed a Senate-approved provision in the legislation that targeted a Baltimore trash incinerator. In approving the 50 percent green energy mandate last month, the Senate also voted to declare that so-called waste-to-energy plants (ones that burn trash to generate power) should not be considered clean energy. That element of . . . Complete story »
State legislation could triple offshore wind energy capacity
OCEAN CITY – While it has been quiet for several months on the issue of offshore wind farms, a pair of bills circulating in the General Assembly could, if approved, essentially triple the capacity of wind energy off Maryland’s shores. Since the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) in 2017 approved two offshore wind energy projects off the coast of Ocean City, town officials have been in a prolonged battle to have the two approved companies site their wind turbines as far . . . Complete story »
Lawmakers debate doubling Maryland’s renewable energy goal
ANNAPOLIS – Fifteen years ago, lawmakers started the long process of phasing in renewable energy to Maryland’s power supplies, and this year, they may have to decide how much further to take it. Maryland’s goal is to have a quarter of its power generated by renewable sources by next year, and it’s currently on track to meet its deadline, said Sen. Brian Feldman (D-Montgomery), who has worked on the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard since it was created in 2004. With the . . . Complete story »
Maryland clean energy bill could triple offshore wind investment
The future of Maryland’s energy use is looking a little greener after the midterm election. With a roster of newly elected officials in the Maryland House of Delegates and Senate, legislation promising a larger commitment to renewable energy is likely to pass next session. Maryland voters elected in a supermajority of candidates to the General Assembly who have explicitly signed support for the Maryland Clean Energy Jobs Act. Generally, a supermajority refers to party affiliation within a state legislature. In . . . Complete story »
Report maps potential environmental impacts of offshore wind energy
A four-year study of planned wind energy areas off the East Coast found that building and operating offshore wind energy arrays could affect some of the region’s most commercially valuable fish species. The report by scientists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration was written to help the federal Bureau of Offshore Energy Management to evaluate development plans for eight offshore wind energy leases issued by the agency. Those areas, extending from the largest proposals to date off southern New . . . Complete story »
Company building wind farm off Ocean City shore in Maryland bought by Danish wind giant
The Rhode Island company that plans to build an offshore wind farm northeast of Ocean City has been bought by a Danish firm in a deal that will create a U.S. wind energy giant with the largest pipeline of projects. The $510 million acquisition of D.E. Shaw Group’s Deepwater Wind by Orsted is not expected to change the timeline of any of the wind farm projects, including the one about 19.5 miles off the Maryland ’s coast close to the . . . Complete story »
Hypocritical argument
In a letter to the editor in the Aug. 24 issue, “Hypocritical Views In OC,” “progressive” Jared Schablein goes way out on a limb in his attempt to defend wind farms. He does so by comparing them to banner airplanes and boat advertising. I’m wondering if he knows the meanings of the following two words: Fleeting: Passing or fading quickly, lasting for a very short time, brief and short-lived. Permanent: Lasting or intended to last indefinitely, irreversible. Aerial advertising has . . . Complete story »
Wind turbine company hosts first ever Lego-build in OC
OCEAN CITY, Md – The Skipjack Wind Farm will stop at nothing to try and get Ocean City on their side and they made that clear today with a one-of-a-kind event. 47 ABC was there as families and kids of all ages enjoyed a LEGO build where they used thousands of LEGO pieces to build their own windmills. Officials with the Skipjack Wind Farm which will be built along the Maryland-Delaware Coastline – say that the event was designed to . . . Complete story »
Under the sea: Company to explore ocean floor off Maryland’s coast to prepare for offshore wind plans
Deepwater Wind, which operates a wind farm in waters off Rhode Island, wants to build another one off the Maryland coast. But before its proposal can go forward, the company needs to know what lies on the sea floor here – and within the ancient layers of sediment beneath it. So geologists, marine biologists and archaeologists will spend the next couple of months seeking answers, scouting the potential footprint of a wind energy project planned near the mouth of the Delaware . . . Complete story »
