MARYLAND OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY ACT OF 2011: FACTS & FIGURES
The Maryland Offshore Wind Energy Act of 2011 requires development of 400 to 600 MW of offshore wind capacity, approximately ten nautical miles off of Maryland's coast. This would require the installation of between 80 and 200 wind turbines, depending on project scope and turbine capacity.
Development of offshore wind at this scale means:
JOBS: Based on a recent report from the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a 500 MW project would create 2,000 manufacturing and construction jobs for 5 years and an additional 400 ongoing supply and jobs thereafter. Additional projects,both in Maryland and in the region, would lead to a significant new sustainable industry for Maryland workers.
LOCAL ELECTRICITY SUPPLY: Maryland imports approximately 30% of the electricity we consume every year. This leads to significant transmission congestion and high line losses, which raises rates for Maryland rate payers. A 500 MW project would supply enough electricity to power 79% of all the homes on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, or more than half of the homes in Baltimore City.
PRICE STABILITY: During the period from 1999 to 2009, energy costs to Maryland ratepayers roughly doubled.
While offshore wind capital costs are high compared to traditional fossil fuel generation, the fuel cost is zero, rendering the operational costs highly competitive.
Using the Delaware offshore wind contract as a model, the initial rate impact for a 500 MW project is expected to be approximately $1.44 on residential monthly bills in 2016 —or roughly the amount of money that could be saved by changing two 60-watt bulbs to Compact Fluorescents—and declining every year thereafter.
CLEAN, RENEWABLE POWER: A 500 MW offshore wind project will reduce emissions of the greenhouse gas, CO2, by 945,000 tons per year and promise improved public health outcomes, cleaner airand cleaner water.
The Maryland Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) requires that Maryland get 20% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2022. In 2008, the last year on record, Maryland imported over 90% of renewable energy required to comply with this policy.
Development of an offshore wind project will generate enough clean energy to satisfy between 10 and 15 percent of Maryland's 2022 renewable energy goals.
SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC IMPACT: The economic impact of offshore wind expands well beyond 2,000 manufacturing, construction and assembly jobs per year for five years, and 400 O&M jobs per year over 25 years.
Based on a regional employment model analysis by the Maryland Department of Business & Economic Development, the total economic impact of offshore wind
over five years is more than $1.9 billion, 8,200 job-years and $14 million in state tax revenues. This figure includes direct and indirect effects.
Background on Off Shore Wind
Areas of the Outer Continental Shelf off the coast of Maryland are ideal for development of offshore wind energy. Maryland’s coast lies along the “Mid-Atlantic Bight”. The U.S. Department of Energy classifies the wind resource here as“outstanding”.
The shelf here slopes gradually and contains vast areas below 30 meters in depth.
This makes it ideal for deployment of monopile turbine foundations.
While there are no currently operating offshore wind farms in North America, commercial scale facilities have been operating in Europe since 1991. An estimated 3,160 MW of capacity are currently operating worldwide, with another 15,000 MW expected to be deployed by 2014.
The Maryland/Federal Offshore Wind Task Force recommended a 207 square nautical mile (nm) area beginning 10 nm East of the Maryland’s Atlantic Coast. This area falls under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI).