Maryland to pursue 8.5-GW offshore wind goal by 2035

Maryland Governor Wes Moore on Wednesday unveiled a new pathway for the Mid-Atlantic US state to achieve its 100% clean energy target by 2035, setting a new goal that envisages quadrupling its offshore wind capacity to 8.5 GW.

The proposal was presented during a plenary keynote at the International Offshore Wind Partnering Forum in Baltimore.

“Maryland is rich in natural assets, institutional strength, numerous offshore wind energy partnerships and a thriving workforce–and I believe if we work together, our state will lead the country in offshore wind energy production,” the Governor said.

The new vision for Maryland calls for the state to significantly boost its installed offshore wind generation capacity, starting from a secured pipeline of 2 GW now, so that it has enough capacity to supply close to 3 million homes from offshore wind turbines by 2035. The plan will be backed by measures for prioritising wind energy partnership and strengthening the offshore wind supply chain. The state will also work to establish new lease areas for turbine installation.

A partnership that could result in the construction of an offshore production plant at a former steel plant in Baltimore is under evaluation, Moore said.

Additionally, the state has created a new office, The Maryland Energy Administration, which will be tasked with assisting investors in the offshore wind market and delivering grants for their projects.

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