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.
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 »
Wind power reality: People learn while government decides
If a Delawarean goes to the beach and sees a line of wind turbines in the distance, what is the impact? Does he vow to never again visit the eyesore, or does he hire a boat to tour the engineering marvel? When he turns on the air conditioning at home, does he save money because of the wind power, or pay an extra dollar to subsidize the renewable energy? Will his children’s asthma improve because of fewer fossil fuels, or . . . Complete story »
Why the fishing industry is against offshore wind farms near Ocean City
Concern from the fishing industry is the latest development in the escalating debate over offshore wind farms near Ocean City. Representatives say wind farms could cause harm by driving marine wildlife away, disturbing the ocean environment and making navigation more difficult for fishers and mariners. “Now with the current offshore wind leasing process, we have these fishing grounds being sold right out from under us,” said Meghan Lapp during a recent presentation to the Ocean City Town Council. Lapp is . . . Complete story »
Offshore wind projects’ impact on fishing grounds discussed
OCEAN CITY – After hearing a strong presentation on the potential impacts of offshore wind energy farms on fishing off the Ocean City coast and throughout the mid-Atlantic, resort officials this week seemed poised to strengthen their opposition to the proposed projects. Since the Maryland Public Service Commission over a year ago approved the leases for two wind energy projects off the coast, Ocean City officials have been in a prolonged battle with the two approved developers to site the massive . . . Complete story »
Offshore wind topic blows back onto Ocean City agenda
Offshore wind farms near Ocean City’s coast will again come up for discussion at Monday’s Town Council meeting. Meghan Lapp, a fisheries liaison for Seabreeze Ltd. in Rhode Island, will outline concerns with how wind farms may affect commercial fishing, according to the agenda document. The presentation will also feature local fisherman George Topping. The addition of wind farms could restrict fishing areas, according to the presentation outline in the agenda documents. Lapp cites the White Marlin Open as one . . . Complete story »
