Governor Wes Moore of Maryland has signed into law the state’s new offshore wind bill, setting a goal of 8.5GW by 2031.
The Power Act, which takes effect on 1 June, effectively quadruples the state’s target. Maryland now has one of the most aggressive offshore wind goals of any US state.
The governor signed the bill in a ceremony at which he and Ørsted announced Maryland’s first offshore wind turbine component centre at Tradepoint Atlantic in Sparrows Point, Baltimore County.
At the 16.2-hectare site, construction firm Riggs Distler will serve as Ørsted’s general contractor. The company will construct and assemble advanced foundation components for offshore wind turbines, such as boat landings, ladders, internal and exterior platforms, railings, grating and other items for Ørsted’s offshore wind projects, said the company.
The wind component centre will offer 125 union construction jobs and 20 professional staff jobs.
Ørsted has 5GW of offshore wind in development in the US, including the 966MW Skipjack Wind project off the Maryland coast.
States in the north-east and MidAtlantic are vying to become the hub of the US’s offshore wind industry.
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