USWind executive praises legislation that boosts offshore generation

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 Today US Wind, Inc. CEO Jeff Grybowski joined last week Maryland Gov. Wes Moore for the signing the Promoting Offshore Wind Energy Resources (POWER) Act of 2023.

Grybowski issued the following statement.

“Governor Moore and the Maryland General Assembly’s monumental vision is now Maryland law, and we’re hitting the ground running to help achieve its clean energy goals,” said Jeff Grybowski, US Wind CEO. “With the backing of the POWER Act, Maryland is on a clear track to lead the nation in offshore wind manufacturing, jobs, and energy generation that will benefit our state for decades to come.” 

Passed by the Maryland General Assembly April 10, the law will quadruple Maryland’s offshore wind generation goals from about 2 gigawatts to 8.5 GW by 2031, improve its transmission infrastructure, and provide a pathway to future procurement of offshore wind energy in the state.

USWind, owned by an Italian construction company, is one of two windpowr projects off the coasts of Maryland and Delaware. The other, Skipjack is being developed by Ørsted, a company based in Denmark that has other offshore wind projects off the East Coast.

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The projects are fiercely opposed by some local government officials, commercial fishermen and some coastal residents. Critics have been making unproven claims that wind power projects wil threaten fishing, tourism and whale populations.

Powerlines from one or both of the Maryland projects couild come ashore in Delaware. The Indian River Power Plant in the Millsboro has grid infrastrucutre The coal-fired power plant has been kept open while the grid around the plant is strengthened in preparation for its eventual closing.

The law also ensures that offshore wind projects provide equitable opportunities for local unions and minority, women, service-disabled, and veteran-owned businesses to join in Maryland’s ambitious clean energy future, a release stated.

 

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