The Biden-Harris administration has announced a joint commitment to evaluate areas near Maryland’s shores in support of offshore wind development. 

Members of this effort include the Department of the Interior, Department of Defense, NOAA, U.S. Coast Guard and NASA, Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, as well as Maryland Governor Wes Moore.

The collaboration will work to review additional areas that could support the goals of Maryland’s Promoting Offshore Wind Energy Resources Act, including consideration of how federal and state efforts could address possible mitigation needs for existing offshore activities. 

This announcement follows the Department of the Interior’s release of a proposed sale notice to conduct a nearly 278,000 acre offshore lease sale next year in the Central Atlantic that could result in enough clean energy to power over 2.2 million homes, says BOEM. 

The PSN does not include WEA B-1, an area identified for potential leasing in July. An in-depth review of WEA B-1 determined that, given the significant costs and mitigation that would be required, advancing site development at this time was not viable. 

“Thanks to the leadership of Senators Van Hollen and Cardin and Governor Moore, the future of Maryland’s offshore wind industry is bright,” says Ali Zaidi, national climate advisor. “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.