Deb Haaland Secretary at U.S. Department of Interior | Official website
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — As part of the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to expand offshore wind opportunities and address the climate crisis while creating jobs, the Department of the Interior announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and Maryland to support wind energy generation offshore.
Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, BOEM Director Elizabeth Klein, and White House National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi joined Governor Wes Moore for the announcement in Annapolis.
“Maryland will play an important role in helping achieve the Biden-Harris administration’s ambitious renewable energy goal of deploying 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy capacity by 2030,” said Secretary Haaland. “Today’s announcement represents another important step towards a clean, reliable energy future with good-paying jobs and economic opportunities that are accessible to communities across America.”
“With today’s partnership agreement, the Biden-Harris administration accelerates our work in lockstep with key state partners like Maryland to build the American offshore wind industry, cut energy costs for families, and create thousands of good-paying jobs, all while tackling the climate crisis,” said National Climate Advisor Zaidi. “Thanks to President Biden’s vision and strong partnership with Maryland state and federal leaders, the Biden-Harris administration will continue to work closely with Maryland to responsibly develop additional areas for offshore wind leasing in the Central Atlantic and grow this industry. The Biden-Harris administration will continue to use every available tool to ensure American workers and communities reap the economic and environmental benefits of this growing industry in Maryland and across the country.”
Under the MOU, BOEM and Maryland will explore potential areas for offshore wind leasing. BOEM will also convene the Central Atlantic Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force with state stakeholders to enhance collaboration on challenges associated with siting offshore wind leasing areas. These efforts aim to support a robust supply chain, yield greater economic return for Maryland and create domestic jobs.
“BOEM is proud of our commitment to build a robust offshore wind industry that benefits communities and co-exists with other ocean uses,” said BOEM Director Klein. “This Memorandum of Understanding solidifies our partnership to collaborate on expanding opportunities for offshore wind energy in the Central Atlantic.”
In December 2023, various federal departments joined U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen along with Governor Moore to announce a joint commitment evaluating additional areas off Maryland’s shores for potential wind energy projects.
President Biden’s Investing in America agenda aims at growing the economy through infrastructure rebuilding, driving investments in manufacturing and clean energy sectors worth over $860 billion, creating well-paying jobs, combating climate change, and enhancing community resilience.
Since taking office, the Department has approved eight commercial-scale offshore wind projects nationwide, held four lease auctions including record-breaking sales off New York/New Jersey coasts as well as inaugural sales off Pacific/Gulf Coasts. The Department has also worked on establishing Wind Energy Areas in Oregon, Gulf of Maine among others while promoting project labor agreements strengthening workforce training bolstering domestic supply chains enhanced engagement with Tribes fisheries underserved communities ocean users.
For more information about offshore wind activities in Central Atlantic visit BOEM’s website.
