Maryland Offshore Wind Energy Act of 2012 (Senate Bill 237)

The proposed Maryland Offshore Wind Energy Act of 2012 would incentivize the development of offshore wind capacity by creating a carve-out in the stateﾒs renewable energy portfolio standard (RPS), to be set by the Public Service Commission (PSC), not to exceed 2.5%, between 2017-2022. To qualify, offshore wind projects would have to demonstrate positive net benefits to the state (including in-state jobs, health benefits, and electric rates), be located in federal waters off the coast of Maryland, and be priced below statutory safeguards for ratepayers.