The Maryland General Assembly has passed the Promoting Offshore Wind Energy Resources (POWER) Act of 2023 (Senate Bill 0781 / House Bill 0793), paving the way for a new clean energy future for the state.
Baltimore-based US Wind, Inc. (US Wind) applauded the bill’s sponsors Delegate Lorig Charkoudian and Senator Katie Fry Hester, committee chairs Brian Feldman and CT Wilson, and House and Senate leadership for passing this landmark legislation. The bill is on its way to Governor Wes Moore’s desk, where he is expected to sign the legislation into law.
“The POWER Act is a real game changer for Maryland,” said Jeff Grybowski, US Wind CEO. “It sets a path for the people of Maryland to reap the benefits of huge amounts of clean energy in the coming years. It also tells the entire offshore wind industry globally that Maryland is back big time as a major player. Companies looking to invest in offshore wind have to seriously consider Maryland.”
The legislation would quadruple Maryland’s offshore wind generation goals from about 2 GW to 8.5 GW by 2031, improve its transmission infrastructure, and provide a pathway to future procurement of offshore wind energy in the state. The 8.5 GW of offshore wind energy targeted in the POWER Act is enough to supply clean energy to more than 2 million homes in Maryland while creating tens of thousands of family-sustaining American jobs, as the bill ensures that offshore wind projects provide equitable opportunities for local unions and minority, women, service-disabled, and veteran-owned businesses to join in Maryland’s ambitious clean energy future.
Passage of the POWER Act follows closely on the heels of Governor Moore’s history-making announcement during the 2023 International Partnering Forum in Baltimore to boost Maryland’s rapidly growing offshore wind energy industry. In recent weeks, US Wind also announced its new partnership with Haizea Wind Group to manage and operate Sparrows Point Steel, Maryland’s first permanent offshore wind factory in Baltimore County, Maryland. The facility will manufacture steel components for the U.S. offshore wind industry, including monopiles and towers, while creating hundreds of jobs for local unions and minority businesses.
