On March 29, 2023, Maryland Governor Wes Moore announced that Maryland will aim to quadruple the amount of energy produced by offshore wind from about 2 gigawatts to 8.5 gigawatts of power. To support the effort, the administration is working to establish new lease areas and strengthen the offshore wind supply chain. To accelerate Maryland’s transition to a clean energy future, the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) will focus on delivering more grants to companies that form key connections along the offshore wind supply chain, including those that develop turbines, blades, cables, and other mechanical parts. The governor also announced that the Maryland Department of Commerce has created a dedicated position that will ensure industry access to an array of state resources and create an environment conducive to startups, attracting investment and assisting established firms with growth, expansion, and workforce development.
To address the public’s lack of awareness and education about offshore wind, MEA awarded the Business Network for Offshore Wind $1.25 million to develop and implement an Offshore Wind Experience Hub on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. “MEA’s Open program continues to foster new and unique ideas to Maryland’s clean energy landscape,” said Paul Pinsky, Director of the Maryland Energy Administration. “With partners like the Business Network for Offshore Wind, we can further educate and showcase the benefits of the Offshore Wind Market. We need to join forces across communities, states, and countries to invest in this emerging industry – and Maryland will be the headquarters of that work.”