Maryland Bill Mandates Purchase of Offshore Wind Power

Maryland lawmakers are considering a bill that would require utilities in the state to purchase electricity generated at offshore wind farms built in the mid-Atlantic.

The Maryland Offshore Wind Act of 2011, to be introduced before the state’s general assembly today, would require public utilities to purchase between 400 megawatts and 600 megawatts of capacity from wind farms in federal waters off Maryland’s coastline for at least 20 years, according to an e-mailed statement from Governor Martin O’Malley’s office.