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The
Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) has announced an Offshore Wind Business
Development Grant Program for the Fiscal Year 2018. The program aims to
provide $600,000 in support for Maryland’s emerging businesses looking
to participate in the global offshore wind industry.
MEA seeks to jumpstart Maryland’s offshore wind supply chain by helping
offset upfront costs in two key areas which may pose as barriers for emerging
businesses. This includes market entry assistance as well as capital expenditures
and facilities upgrades.
Applications for funding are due to be submitted by 1st September 2017
with grant award announcements scheduled for December 2017.
Last week the future of two offshore wind farms off the coast of Maryland
was thrown into disarray following the House Appropriations Committee adopting
a legislation amendment introduced by Congressman Andy Harris. The legislation
blocks the use of federal funds to conduct reviews of site assessment or
construction and operation plans for wind turbines less than 24 nautical
miles from the State of Maryland shoreline -the distance at which the turbines
would not be visible from the shoreline and affecting the viewscape.
Skipjack
and
Maryland,
both lie within the 24 nautical mile limit. Both projects are in the early
stages of development. The decision from the
House Appropriations Committee may require the projects to move further
from shore, jeopardising their realisation.
The wind farms have a combined capacity of 368MW and together yield over
$1.8bn of in-state spending. It is expected that if the projects move forward
they could facilitate the creation of almost 9,700 new direct and indirect
jobs and contributing $74m in state tax revenues over 20 years.
Skipjack
is to be located between 27-33km (17-21 miles) from the coast and is estimated
to cost $720m to construct. With a capacity of 120MW it is scheduled for
operation late 2022.
U.S
Wind's project is anticipated to
cost $1.375bn to construct and will include the installation of 62 turbines
19-27km (12-17 miles) off the coast of Ocean City. With a capacity of 248MW
it is scheduled for the array to enter operation in 2020. Ultimately U.S
Wind plans to install a total of 187 off the coast of Ocean City which
could produce power for more than 500,000 homes.