Md. Conference To Promote Off-Shore Wind Power
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) -- Advocates gathered at a conference in Annapolis to promote off-shore wind power. Last month Maryland and the federal government announced plans to speed up the process to put electric generated wind turbines off Maryland's coast.
Mike Schuh reports green energy enthusiasts and businesses urged them to work even faster.
Getting wind power plants built over Maryland's horizon in the Atlantic is on the fast track.
A standing room only conference pushed the state to work even faster.
Bob Mitchell, CEO of Trans Electric is pushing a new technology, which allows windmills to be further out to sea, causing it not to be visible from the beach.
"Well you're only going to see off-shore wind developed if there is public support for it," said Mitchell.
His company wants to build the electric cable from New Jersey to Virginia, linking the farms together.
"That has the effect of smoothing out the variability of wind," said Mitchell.
Plus it makes the wind more reliable. Steel turbine parts mean one thing to union officials.
"Its jobs, protecting current jobs and creating new jobs," said Jim Strong, United Steelworkers.
The state comes in to encourage the bankers to lend the money to build off-shore farms, and utilities in other states are required to purchase a certain percentage of wind power.
"You need the permits and you need the financing," said Tom Carlson, Chesapeake Climate Action Network.
The attendees hope to use what they've learned to encourage the state to speed up their policies to make offshore wind generation a reality.
The governor said that in order for Maryland to meet its goal of having 20-percent of its energy use some from renewable resources that offshore wind farms need to be built.
The conference follows a visit to Baltimore last week by Interior Secretary Ken Salazar in which he promised to spur offshore wind projects in the Atlantic Ocean by expediting permits and identifying promising areas for wind power.
