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In Their Words …
" They are very well-organized, and they are a well-thought-out group of individuals who are going to make sure their concerns are heard. "
House Speaker Michael E. Busch
Offshore Wind: Good Jobs, Clean Power
Good Jobs, Price Stability, and Clean Energy Offshore wind is one of America's greatest untapped energy resources. The achievable wind capacity off our coast is nearly 900,000 megawatts. Capturing even a fraction of this potential will yield dramatic benefits for our nation's energy security and the environment. Developing Maryland's offshore wind resources could lead to the creation of more than 15,000 jobs over the next 20 years and would enable us to meet our clean energy requirement of 20% renewable energy by 2022. We will be working to pass legislation requiring Maryland's utilities to enter into long-term contracts for offshore wind power.
Environmental Challenge
Offshore wind power could supply up to one third of the Mid Atlantic's electric load with zero emissions, creating thousands of jobs while locking in stable electricity rates. The Maryland Energy Administration has found that offshore wind power has the highest potential for Maryland to meet our renewable portfolio standard of 20 percent clean electricity by 2022.
For a wind company to secure financing to build an offshore wind park, it first needs a long-term contract with an utility or other electricity purchaser. Most of our energy decisions today are made with an emphasis on a shortterm outlook and limited priorities. This kind of thinking has led to choosing heavily subsidized and dirty fossil fuels. In fact, Maryland currently gets over half its electricity from dirty coal plants. When we look at the cost over a long-term period -- and when our priorities include price stability, new jobs, and environmental and public health benefits -- offshore wind power is a clear choice for Maryland.
Bill Framework
Offshore wind legislation will require the Public Service Commission to direct public utilities to negotiate longterm contracts for offshore wind power. A twenty-five year contract that satisfies a modest portion of each large electricity supplier's current total power supply with offshore wind power would lock in stable energy prices over that period and create much-needed jobs for the construction, operations, and maintenance of offshore windmills. The legislation will set up a process for utilities to offer requests for offshore wind power proposals and to negotiate contracts for offshore wind electric generation. The legislation will also direct the PSC to consider long-term price stability, environmental and public health benefits, and other factors when determining whether
to approve the long-term contracts.
This legislation would:
• Create thousands of new jobs. A 1GW offshore wind park would create close to 5,000 jobs.
• Lock in stable electricity rates for up to 25 years as the wind is free.
• Provide zero-emission power for the state and reduce health-hazardous and heat-trapping
pollution from fossil fuels.
For more information, please contact:
Tom Carlson, Chesapeake Climate Action Network;
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
, 240-396-2035
Brad Heavner, Environment Maryland; This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , 410-467-0439
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