Oceantic Network Applauds Passage of Maryland Offshore Wind Bill as Victory for Supply Chain and Job Creation

The Oceantic Network, the leading organization working to advance offshore wind and other ocean renewable industries and their supply chains, applauds the signing of Maryland HB 1296 by Governor Wes Moore. Moore signed the bill into law, setting up a future offshore wind solicitation for the state and allowing MarWin and Momentum Wind developer US Wind to renegotiate its current offtake agreements. Both actions are critical to Maryland’s efforts to meet its 8.5GW of offshore wind power generation goal by 2031 and maintain the state’s opportunity to become a hub of offshore wind activity.

The passage of this law follows Ørsted’s January withdrawal from its power purchase agreement with Maryland for its Skipjack Wind project. It ensures Maryland can quickly re-allocate the Offshore Wind Renewable Energy Credits held by Ørsted to US Wind without exceeding mandated ratepayer caps. 

The following statement can be attributed to Liz Burdock, CEO of Oceantic Network: 

“Today’s bill signing demonstrates Maryland’s steadfast commitment to maintaining its strategic manufacturing advantage by working with industry to develop solutions and help reset current markets. The offshore wind industry already contributed massively to the state’s economy and is poised to generate approximately $650,000,000 in investment and support nearly 35,000 jobs. 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.”

Oceantic Network | https://oceantic.org/