Maryland Energy Administration Applauds Federal Lease Auction of Additional Maryland Waters for Offshore Wind Energy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Tim Zink | 443-758-7344

New lease sale better positions Maryland to expand job growth and clean energy production

BALTIMORE – Maryland Energy Administration Director Paul G. Pinsky today issued the following statement on the completion of a federal lease offering of additional areas for offshore wind energy development along Maryland’s coast. The auction of “Area A-2,” which is more than 25 nautical miles from Delaware Bay, covered more than 100,000 total offshore acres along the Delaware, Maryland and Virginia coastlines. 

“Yesterday’s offshore wind energy lease auction is a decisive stride forward that will advance clean energy production, create new jobs, and work against climate change. Securing the newly offered areas was a major priority for Governor Moore and his administration. We strongly appreciate the attentiveness and professionalism of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management in understanding the urgency of our push for progress and its careful handling of both this lease offering and the forthcoming environmental reviews for projects in the area. Each new turbine along our coast will produce enough electricity to power several thousand average-sized Maryland homes. 

Offshore wind energy holds tremendous potential to provide large-scale clean energy supplies and can do so relatively quickly. We laud the vision and cooperation of federal regulators in helping Maryland move in the right direction, both today and in the future.”   

The Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) promotes clean, affordable, reliable energy and energy-related greenhouse gas emission reductions to benefit Marylanders in a just and equitable manner. For more information about the agency and its programs, visit our website at Energy.Maryland.gov, and follow us on social media: LinkedIn | X | Facebook.  

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