Gov. Martin O'Malley, D-Md., outlined the 2012 budget for the state. The budget focuses investments on the continued expansion of the green jobs sector and includes $7 million in Strategic Energy Investment Funds to be used for renewable energy grants and $1 million to support climate-change programs.
The governor says he plans to sponsor legislation that directs the Public Service Commission (PSC) to require Maryland's five distribution utilities to award long-term contracts to procure between 400 MW to 600 MW of offshore wind energy.Â
The PSC will oversee the procurement process and approve the final contracts, which must be for a period of no less than 20 years. Any additional costs of electricity from offshore wind, and ultimately the additional savings, will be shared by all ratepayers and customer classes in the state, according to the governor. The legislation will be formally introduced at a later date.Â
SOURCE: Office of Gov. Martin O'Malley
