O'Malley Pushes Wind Power In Final Days Of Session

The governor's proposal to mandate that state utilities buy wind energy generated by turbines planned for construction 12 miles off the coast of Ocean City has run into objections from lawmakers that it would cost ratepayers too much money.

Lawmakers are five days from the end of session, with many of the governor's top priorities — including the wind bill — still awaiting decisions.

"The offshore wind (bill), for many members, is a big new concept for them, and we're trying to speak to the details and the specifics of it, in an effort to help members become more comfortable with the benefits of what we believe is a responsible proposal," O'Malley said after a Board of Public Works meeting.

O'Malley's energy team — including the heads of the Public Service Commission and the Maryland Energy Administration — took questions from members of the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday.

Republicans asked why the administration was not seeking a guaranteed market for a cheaper form of energy, like natural gas.

"If it's good enough for wind, is it good enough for natural gas? I guess not," said Senate Minority Whip E.J. Pipkin, answering his rhetorical question.

O'Malley's energy team said the proposal would help on many fronts, including cleaning the environment and positioning Maryland to capitalize on the creation of new manufacturing jobs constructing wind turbine parts.

"We're not talking about simply the cost of fossil fuel benefits versus the wind power benefits, we're talking about the other benefits," said Abigail Hopper, O'Malley's energy adviser and the author of the wind bill.

As O'Malley has worked to build his national profile and has relied in large part on clean energy proposals to align himself with national Democratic leaders, including President Barack Obama. O'Malley joined a national press call last week with US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to pitch Obama's national energy plan last week and joined Interior Secretary Ken Salazar in touting offshore wind energy last year.

O'Malley, who chairs the Democratic Governors Association, has keynoted a Democratic fundraiser in Virginia and played guitar with an Israeli-Celtic band at the Israeli Embassy in Washington since being inaugurated to his second term as governor in January.

But O'Malley's frequent travel out of state since being inaugurated has been criticized by many state lawmakers — including Miller, who urged the governor a few weeks ago to personally lobby senators if he wants to be successful.

Some senators, including Senate Finance Committee Chairman Thomas "Mac" Middleton, D-Charles, have floated studying the proposal for a year before approving anything, although supporters say it has been studied plenty already.

"This bill has been studied to death," said Delegate Tom Hucker, D-Montgomery, lead House sponsor of the wind bill. "We need to move already."

House Economic Matters Committee Chairman Dereck Davis, D-Prince George's, said he expects his panel to vote on the bill Thursday, giving the measure four days to win full approvals from the House and the Senate if it passes the committee.

Delegate Michael Vaughn, D-Prince George's, who is a key swing vote on the House Economic Matters Committee considering the wind bill, said Wednesday he still had many questions about the impact and that he would like to see it studied first.

"I'm iffy," he said.