Governor Wes Moore has signed Maryland HB 1296, with provisions that include the state setting up a future offshore wind solicitation schedule and proposing amounts of wind procurement through 2031.
The signing follows Ørsted’s withdrawal from its PPA with the state for its Skipjack Wind project earlier this year. This allows for the Offshore Wind Renewable Energy Credits held by Ørsted to be reallocated without exceeding mandated ratepayer caps.
“The offshore wind industry already contributed massively to the state’s economy and is poised to generate approximately $650 million in investment and support nearly 35,000 jobs,” says Liz Burdock, CEO of Oceantic Network.
“Today’s bill contains provisions that will buttress efforts to realize offshore wind investments in facilities like Tradepoint Atlantic and the Port of Baltimore, as well as spur investments beyond Maryland in ports and manufacturing facilities that can be utilized for projects across the East Coast. Along with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s upcoming Central Atlantic lease auction this summer, this bill and future efforts from Maryland will place the state’s 8.5 GW goal firmly within reach.”
