Maryland Makes History With 8.5 GW Offshore Wind Goal

Baltimore-based US Wind, Inc. (US Wind) and other Maryland leaders applauded Maryland Governor Wes Moore’s history-making announcement during the 2023 International Partnering Forum in Baltimore, which gave a major boost to the state’s rapidly-growing offshore wind energy industry.

Under Governor Moore’s leadership, Maryland is poised to lead on clean energy generation, offshore wind manufacturing, and jobs for the 21st century.

"Our administration is serious about offshore wind, and Maryland is ready to lead," said Governor Wes Moore. "We need all hands on deck in this crucial moment — so we can strengthen Maryland's supply chain, leverage our state's assets, and put Marylanders to work in clean energy jobs centered on logistics and manufacturing. If we join together in partnership, we can make Maryland the offshore wind capital of the United States."

Governor Moore announced that Maryland will aim to quadruple the amount of energy produced by offshore wind from about 2 gigawatts to 8.5 gigawatts, which is enough to power nearly three million homes. The governor said the state has plans to significantly increase its offshore wind output and prioritize wind energy partnerships, creating significant economic and job creation opportunities in the state.

“Governor Moore’s announcement is a homerun for the people of Maryland,” said Jeff Grybowski, US Wind CEO. “He has a big and bold vision that aims to make Maryland the national leader in this new industry and will create thousands of jobs in the process. Governor Moore is the person we need right now to achieve a clean energy future for Maryland.”

Local officials, minority business leaders, and union labor joined US Wind to applaud Governor Moore’s leadership in transitioning to a clean energy future.

The governor also announced that the administration is working to establish new lease areas and strengthen the offshore wind supply chain in the state. Meanwhile, the Maryland General Assembly is set to pass the complimentary Promoting Offshore Wind Energy Resources (POWER) Act of 2023 (Senate Bill 0781 / House Bill 0793), which also calls for Maryland to boost its offshore wind generation goals to 8.5 gigawatts, improve its transmission infrastructure, and provide a pathway to future procurement of offshore wind energy in the state.

The governor’s announcement comes on the heels of US Wind’s new partnership with Haizea Wind Group to manage and operate Sparrows Point Steel, Maryland’s first permanent offshore wind factory in Baltimore County, Maryland. The facility will manufacture steel components for the U.S. offshore wind industry, including monopiles and towers, while creating hundreds of jobs for local unions and minority businesses.