Wind Power Bill Passes Maryland House Committee

A small fee would be added to electric bills to subsidize the development of the renewable energy

Legislation that would lay the groundwork for offshore wind energy in Maryland has passed in a key Maryland House committee. 

This is the legislation that would add a small fee to electric bills in order to subsidize the development of an offshore wind farm to provide clean renewable energy. The bill has now cleared the Maryland House's Economic Matters Committee. 

Josh Tulkin, with the Maryland Sierra Club, says since the bill passed out of committee, it's very likely to pass in the House and has a good shot in the State Senate. 

The bill has addressed cost concerns that prevented it from being passed last year, according to Tulkin.

"The price won't be more than $1.50 per average household per month," he says. "And that's the maximum. If the price of fossil fuels goes up, there's a good chance the offshore wind farm will actually save consumers money."

According to the Sierra Club, the offshore wind farm that would develop from this incentive would make as much electricity as a small natural gas power plant, without the greenhouse gases.

Complete story at wamu.org

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