Developing story in the fight for offshore wind:
The Maryland Public Service Commission recently approved two major offshore wind projects to be built near the coast of Ocean City after six years of thoughtful consideration. We are poised to bring clean energy and countless family-supporting jobs in a burgeoning industry to our state. Unfortunately, Congressman Andy Harris just passed an amendment through the House Appropriations Committee that threatens to flush it all down the toilet. Harris, whose district includes the Eastern Shore, sponsored a measure that requires the turbines to be located at least 24 miles from shore. His amendment bars federal funding from being spent on government reviews of wind projects built within 24 miles of Maryland's shoreline (while construction farther out would remain unaffected). Harris claims his amendment won’t kill the project; it will only delay it. Harris has pointed to an offshore wind plan in Virginia, 27 miles off the shore as proof of this.
This claim by Harris is not sufficient. U.S. Wind Inc, the company heading the MD wind project, has an approved lease area shaped like a triangle. This amendment would allow only enough room for U.S. Wind to build a single turbine (rather than the up to 62 turbines that could be built without the distance limitations). This seriously cuts the possibility for clean energy generation and job creation that would have resulted from the original, approved offshore wind project.
We must act now-- join us in the effort to save these offshore wind projects! Please call Representative Harris and let him know you support clean energy from offshore wind and the economic growth it will bring: 202-225-5311
Check back later for more information as the fight continues.