Offshore Wind Updates
Maryland is one important step closer to making its first offshore wind project a reality. The federal government recently completed its environmental review of US Wind’s proposed installation of up to 114 wind turbines and four offshore substation platforms eleven miles off the Delmarva coast.
When the project receives final approval, onshore construction of the turbines is slated to begin next year at Baltimore’s Sparrow Point—the former site of Bethlehem Steel. Last week I toured several of the buildings and the dry dock that will be reused and redeveloped. When completed, the energy produced by the wind turbines built there can generate clean, renewable energy for over 770,000 homes.
Why am I such a strong advocate for offshore wind?
It provides a domestic source of high capacity, clean, renewable energy.
On the East Coast, where we have limited large land areas for solar and land-based wind, we cannot reach our climate goals without offshore wind.
It does not emit pollution or greenhouse gasses.
Because offshore winds are stronger in the winter and at night, it complements solar and land-based wind—getting us closer to 24/7 renewable energy.
Maryland is poised to be a leader in developing the manufacturing facilities and workforce for the U.S. offshore wind industry. Construction of the US Wind project alone is expected to create more than 2,600 jobs annually over the next seven years. Many of these are union jobs that will support a strong middle class.
My POWER Act legislation is helping to create the government procurement processes that will support the developing market for offshore wind.
Data Centers Workgroup
I am honored to have been appointed to serve on the Governor's Workgroup on Data Centers. As our need for advanced computing increases, so does the need for data centers to house the necessary infrastructure. Yet these data centers are incredible users of both energy and water—consuming 10 to 50 times the energy per floor of a typical commercial office building according to the U.S. Department of Energy. The Governor's workgroup will be working to find strategies for Maryland data center development to be sustainable for the environment and the communities in which they are located.
This issue underscores why I have worked so hard over the past several years organizing legislators across the country to enhance the affordability and resiliency of our electrical grid and hold grid operators (like PJM, which controls the grid in our region) accountable to the public. Proactive transmission planning can help us meet our states’ economic development, climate, and rate-payer protection goals.
Canvassing in for Kamala Harris and all the Dems
A dedicated group of volunteers recently traveled with me to York, PA, to canvass in neighborhoods that typically have low voter turn-out. Working with the PA-based team from CASA in Action, we represented the first weekend wave of volunteers to canvass for Kamala Harris and the revitalized Democratic ticket.
Canvassing in both Maryland and Pennsylvania will continue right up until the election. Our next scheduled canvass will be on Saturday, August 24th. If you would like to join me, sign up to be alerted to opportunities here.
Stay in Touch: Need help with a state issue? Please contact my office at lorig.charkoudian@house.state.md.us or leave us a message at (410)-841-3423.
Onward,
Lorig
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