Wind power in Maryland

2003 US Department of Energy wind resource map of Maryland

Wind power in Maryland, which has land-based and offshore resources, is in the early stages of development.[1][2][3] As of 2016, Maryland has 191 megawatts (MW) of wind powered electricity generating capacity, responsible for 1.4% of in-state generated electricity.[4]

Regulatory environment

Development of project has been partially hindered by the uncertainty of state government direction since the Maryland General Assembly and local governments are considering banning certain areas. Legislation to do so was not signed by the governor.[5]

Land-based projects

  • Criterion Wind Project
  • Great Bay Wind Energy Center is a proposed wind farm that will utilize coastal winds in Somerset County[6] The $200-million, 150-megawatt facility is being undertaken by Texas-based Pioneer Green Energy which proposes to Initially build twenty-five 599 ft (183 m) wind turbines. A second phase would add another 25 turbines.[7] A single turbine is proposed as demo to overcome public adversity to the project.[8]

Offshore projects

Maryland Offshore Wind Energy Act

The Maryland Offshore Wind Energy Act of 2013 is a legislation to encourage the development of up to 500 MW of offshore wind capacity, authorized $1.7 billion in subsidies for the next 20 years for Maryland offshore wind development. An area of 94 square nautical miles (79,706 acres) approximately 10-30 miles off the Maryland coast has been identified as suitable for offshore wind development. This was split into two (north and south) lease areas and auctioned by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)3 on August 19, 2014.[9][9] The Maryland Wind Energy Area is located, at its closest point, about 10 nautical miles offshore Ocean City in the Outer Continental Shelf of Atlantic Ocean and has the potential to support between 850 and 1450 megawatts of commercial wind generation.[10]

US Wind

In 2014, US Wind, a subsidiary of Italy-based Renexia SpA, won the auction for a 25-year leases for both areas issued by the BOEM with a bid of $8.7 million for areas.[11][12] Development of their project is hindered by the uncertainty of government direction since the state legislature and local governments are considering banning certain areas. [5] As of the summer of 2016 US Wind has completed underwater surveys of the potential sites about a dozen miles off the coast of Maryland and is submitting plans for environmental review by year end. [13]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "MEA-Wind Energy". Maryland.gov. Retrieved 2015-05-17.
  2. ↑ "Maryland's Offshore Wind Power Potential : A Report Sponsored by the Abell Foundation and Prepared by the University of Delaware's Center for Carbon-free Power Integration, College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment" (PDF). Abell.org. Retrieved 2015-05-17.
  3. ↑ "Maryland Activities". Boem.gov. Retrieved 2015-05-17.
  4. ↑ "Maryland Wind Energy" (PDF). U.S. Wind Energy State Facts. American Wind Energy Association. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  5. 1 2 Baltimore Sun (6 April 2015). "Shore wind project scrapped amid political roadblocks". Baltimoresun.com. Retrieved 2015-05-17.
  6. ↑ "Maryland's $200 Million Wind Energy Project Will Move Forward Thanks To Governor's Veto". ThinkProgress.org. Retrieved 2015-05-17.
  7. ↑ "COHEN: Giant wind farm could deal the Chesapeake Bay a heavy blow". The Washingtion Times. Retrieved 2015-05-17.
  8. ↑ http://www.americanfarm.com/publications/the-delmarva-farmer/events/2110-pioneer-green-energy-offering-single-turbine-demonstration
  9. 1 2 "Offshore Wind Energy". Umces.edu. Retrieved 2015-05-17.
  10. ↑ "Offshore Wind for Maryland" Presentation Map, Governor of Maryland, February 2, 2012. Accessed: 17 October 2013.
  11. ↑ "Interior Auctions 80,000 Acres Offshore Maryland for Wind Energy Development, Advances President's Climate Action Plan". Doi.gov. Retrieved 2015-05-17.
  12. ↑ Aaron Nathans The News Journal, The News Journal (20 August 2014). "Md. takes step closer to offshore wind turbines". Delawareonline. Retrieved 2015-05-17.
  13. ↑ Wheeler, Timothy B. "Planning for Md. offshore wind project gets underway". baltimoresun.com. Retrieved 2017-01-06.
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