On Oct. 14, an article in The Baltimore Examiner asserted that Gov. Martin O’Malley’s decision to ban commercial wind development in state parks and forests meant that he was “rejecting” wind as a potential renewable energy source and thereby forcing Maryland to remain dependent on foreign sources of oil (“Give wind a chance”).
Such a proposition is simply not true. First, the article confuses transportation fuels, such as gasoline, with renewable sources of electricity, such as wind. Because virtually all of the oil consumed in Maryland is for our cars, there’s almost no relationship between imported oil and wind turbines.
Moreover, O’Malley has led Maryland to be one of the most aggressive “clean energy” states. As mentioned in the article, he successfully championed a new law that more than doubles the amount of renewable energy that must be purchased by Maryland’s electric companies, reaching 20 percent by 2022. Because such power could be generated anywhere in the 14 states that are part of Maryland’s electricity grid, Maryland consumers can benefit from the most affordable renewable power in the region.
In addition, O’Malley has sought to jump-start commercial-scale renewable energy in the state. In an innovative, first-of-its-kind project, Maryland has offered a long-term power purchase contract to clean energy developers that can build new sources of renewable power to serve the state’s load by 2012. Conducted in partnership with the University of Maryland and several counties, the initial response has been overwhelming, particularly among wind developers, and a contract is expected next year.
The Maryland Energy Administration has also made considerable strides to promote smaller-scale wind and other renewable power projects. Through the governor’s Clean Energy Schools initiative, Maryland installed its first demo-scale wind project at Crisfield High School in Somerset County, providing a great venue to educate students and offset a portion of the school’s energy bills.
MEA’s Windswept Grant Program provides grants to rural homeowners to promote residential wind, and the program also loans wind anemometers to Marylanders interested in evaluating their wind resources. Earlier this year, MEA prepared a model wind ordinance that several counties have either adopted or are actively considering as a way to navigate the difficult zoning issues associated with wind power. Because of these incentives and initiatives, small-scale wind power has doubled in the last six months. (For more information on wind energy and MEA’s Wind Program, visit energy.maryland.gov.)
In addition, O’Malley also championed MEA’s highly successful solar and geothermal grant program. This program demonstrated the tremendous demand in Maryland for clean, renewable power when MEA received enough applications in the first week to fully expend all of the fiscal year’s funding, and the administration has sought additional revenues to fill its constantly growing wait list.
As the governor aims to address Maryland’s serious environmental and energy challenges, a balance must be made in protecting public parks and forests for future generations while still promoting the development of commercial wind power on privately owned lands. Maryland strives to do just that while supporting all renewable energy sources.
Malcolm Woolf is the director of the Maryland Energy Administration.
