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Wind Energy Bill Gets More Support

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) -- A wind energy bill sponsored by Governor Martin O'Malley gets support from a coalition of Maryland college students.

Pat Warren reports the proposal has a number of hurdles to clear.

The future takes on the fossils and sets out to inherit the wind. Wind energy is an O'Malley administration priority for the second year in a row but this time the lawmakers have had more time to study it. In a Senate committee hearing last week, the governor pitched it again.

"There's no hope that we'll ever get it if we don't continue to move forward," said O'Malley.

It uses the wind off the coast of Ocean City to generate electricity.

"God has put it off of our shore. What we have to make the choice to do is to harness it," said O'Malley.

And customers have to be prepared to pay for it -- an additional $2 a month --  which gives some lawmakers pause.

"A lot of that depends on what we think the price of fossil fuels is going to be," said O'Malley.

But wind advocates believe despite the cost, the juice is worth the squeeze.

Governor O'Malley testifies on wind energy in a House committee Thursday.

According to the administration, it would be five years before consumers would see the cost of building the wind farm added to their bills.

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