Gov. Jack Markell, Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley and Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine agreed Nov. 10 on a tri-state partnership for the deployment of off shore wind energy in the Mid-Atlantic coastal region. The three states signed a Memorandum of Understanding creating a formal partnership that will build on the region’s significant offshore wind resources to generate energy and a sustainable market that will bring new economic opportunities.
Delaware currently has a power purchasing agreement with Bluewater Wind, the company that plans to build an wind farm off the coast fo Rehoboth Beach.
“With the only power purchase agreement in place for offshore wind in the United States, Delaware is poised to be the first state in the nation to develop an offshore wind farm, bringing clean power to the region and creating hundreds of jobs,” said Governor Jack Markell. “This agreement will help us leverage the resources and energy of our three state governments to help our region become the true powerhouse for this important source of renewable, reliable alternative energy.”
Through the memorandum, the states will focus on leveraging resources and information to bring offshore wind energy to the region. Immediate tasks under the argreement are to identify common transmission strategies for offshore wind energy deployment in the region, discuss ways to encourage sustainable market demand for this renewable resource and work collaboratively in pursuing federal energy policies which help advance offshore wind in the Mid-Atlantic.
The agreement also calls for examination of ways to coordinate regional supply chain facilities to secure supply, deployment and operations and maintenance functions to support offshore wind energy facilities. Collaboration on strategies to utilize academic institutions to create standards and opportunities for training and workforce development will also be developed.
