Maryland Paves the Way for Large-Scale Offshore Wind Projects

The Maryland Public Service Commission has awarded offshore wind renewable energy credits to advance two large-scale offshore projects with a combined capacity of 368 MW, potentially outdoing the capacity of the 30 MW Block Island, the only operational offshore wind facility in the U.S. The extension of the wind PTC and the successful completion of the Block Island project have spurred more companies and states to increase their focus on offshore wind development. State policy shifts to advance offshore wind projects will likely provide the much-needed impetus for the U.S. offshore wind industry, which has been plagued by regulatory uncertainty, permitting hurdles, high infrastructure costs, and public resistance.