Maryland Sets Aside USD 4.7 Million to Boost Offshore Wind Workforce

August 2, 2024, by Adnan Memija

Maryland Governor Wes Moore has earmarked USD 4.7 million (approximately EUR 4.3 million) in federal funds for training and job placement initiatives to expand the US state’s offshore wind workforce.

The funding, made possible through the US Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration Good Jobs Challenge, is said to help make Maryland more competitive by creating a skilled worker pipeline into the state’s wind energy industry with a focus on building a diverse and inclusive workforce.

The new grant opportunity is part of the Maryland Department of Labor’s Maryland Works for Wind initiative, which was allocated USD 23 million in federal funds in 2022 to develop the state’s wind industry.

The project includes a partnership of employers, unions, Local Workforce Development Areas, business alliances, and training providers all working together in a sustainable energy ecosystem.

“We’re excited to support additional partnerships to grow the workforce in key sectors that support offshore wind: manufacturing, transportation and logistics, and the skilled trades,” said Maryland Department of Labor Secretary Portia Wu.

The department has opened its request for proposals, with applications due by October 7.

Accepted grantees will provide workforce training, supportive services, and job placement assistance in occupations that support the offshore wind industry—including the skilled trades, manufacturing, transportation, and logistics, according to the press release from the state government.

Maryland currently has around 2 GW of offshore wind projects awarded offshore renewable energy credits (ORECs) and a 2031 offshore wind target of 8.5 GW.

In 2017, the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) awarded offshore renewable energy credits (ORECs) to US Wind’s and Ørsted’s 248 MW MarWin and 120 MW Skipjack 1 projects. In 2021, the two developers won ORECs for their 808.5 MW Momentum Wind (US Wind) and 846 MW Skipjack Wind 2 (Ørsted) offshore wind farms.

In May this year, Maryland Governor Wes Moore signed a new offshore wind bill under which the State will create a schedule for offshore wind solicitations until 2031 and revise previous solicitations. The latter will allow the State to re-allocate the support awarded to Ørsted’s Skipjack project, from whose power purchase agreement the developer withdrew, to other eligible offshore wind projects.

A month later, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the state to support the coordinated development of offshore wind in Maryland.

Under the MOU, BOEM and the state government will continue the joint work on exploring and identifying potential areas for offshore wind leasing.