USA: Governor O’Malley, Senate President Miller Join Offshore Wind Rally

An offshore wind rally in Annapolis, scheduled for today, will see Gov. Martin O’Malley and Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. joining those in favour of the Governor’s bill and offshore wind in Maryland, Baltimore Business Journal informs.

Governor O’Malley’s Offshore Wind Energy Act of 2013, Senate Bill 275, is put before the Senate Finance Committee for a hearing today.

The bill, which would establish a mechanism to incentivize the development of a 200 megawatt offshore wind facility and a regulatory framework that will allow further projects to interconnect in Maryland, has 24 co-sponsors in the Senate and 58 co-sponsors in the House of Delegates.

The proposed 200 MW project could be a first sign of an emerging offshore wind industry in the United States.

Environmentalists and faith-based groups will also participate in the rally, supporting the proposed offshore wind bill, which was introduced by the Governor in January.

The rally is organized by the Maryland Offshore Wind Coalition.

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Offshore WIND staff, February 13, 2013