In an effort to advance Maryland’s offshore wind development in the Central Atlantic, Gov. Wes Moore signed a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Ocean Energy Management last week.
The partnership will explore and develop areas for offshore wind leasing, maximize benefits from offshore wind development, and address gaps in available offshore wind leasing areas.
Offshore wind development is a major component of Maryland’s strategy to meet state climate goals. By 2031, the state aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60% statewide and achieve net zero emissions by 2045.
Maryland’s offshore wind development also will help the Biden-Harris Administration reach its goal of deploying 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy capacity by 2030, according to Deb Haaland, the secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Among the benefits of this development is clean energy and economic growth for Marylanders, Moore said.
“Offshore wind means new manufacturing jobs, higher wages, and more opportunity to grow wealth for Maryland families,” Moore said in a statement. “Together, we will build an economy that is both green and growing.”
