Maryland, BOEM seek way forward to include state in central Atlantic lease auctions

The aim of the agreement is to help make Maryland more competitive by building a more robust supply chain, creating more jobs and supporting co-ordinated, resilient and sustainable development of offshore wind generation. Doing so will help enable the state to participate in lease auctions for offshore wind in the Central Atlantic area.

The governor was joined at the State House for the signing by US Department of the Interior Secretary Deb Haaland; White House National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi; Bureau of Ocean Emergency Management Director Liz Klein; US Senator Chris Van Hollen, Congressman John Sarbanes, and Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary Josh Kurtz. 

In late 2023, BOEM proposed the first central Atlantic lease sale, but left out an area offshore Maryland. The proposed lease sale included one area offshore the states of Delaware and Maryland, and one area offshore the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Speaking at the time the MOU was signed, Governor Moore said, “Maryland is serious about offshore wind, not just because of what it means for our environment, but also because of what it means for our economy.”

“Offshore wind means new manufacturing jobs, higher wages and more opportunity to grow wealth for Maryland families. I’m grateful to the Biden-Harris Administration and all of our partners at the local, state and federal levels for their partnership in this work. Together, we will build an economy that is both green and growing.” 

The agreement recognises commitments by BOEM and the state to explore and develop areas for offshore wind leasing to ensure efficient development of offshore wind, maximise domestic benefits from offshore wind development, and address the gaps in available offshore wind leasing area availability.

BOEM director Liz Klein said the MOU “solidifies our partnership to collaborate on expanding the opportunities for offshore wind energy in the central Atlantic.”

In mid-May 2024, legislation was signed that aims to keep the state’s offshore wind goals on track. Maryland House Bill 1296 was sponsored by House Economic Matters Committee chair CT Wilson and vice chair Brian Crosby. A companion bill, Senate Bill 1161, was cross-filed in the Senate, where it was sponsored by chair of the Senate Education, Energy and the Environment Committee Brian Feldman and Senator Katie Hester. The legislation was signed by Governor Wes Moore, setting up a future offshore wind solicitation for the state and allowing MarWin and Momentum Wind developer US Wind to renegotiate its current offtake agreements. 

Both actions are critical to Maryland’s efforts to meet its goal of 8.5 GW of offshore wind by 2031 and maintain the state’s opportunity to become a hub of offshore wind activity.