In Annapolis the General Assembly has finally handed Governor Martin O’Malley a victory in his search to bring the wind industry to Maryland.
The House of Delegates approved a Senate version of the legislation on a final vote of 88-to-48.
It now goes to Governor Martin O’Malley for his signature.
Supporters say it will help diversify the state’s sources of clean and renewable energy.
The measure would require electricity suppliers to produce at least 2.5 percent of their power from offshore wind by 2017.
It would also offer a developer subsidy of up to $1.7 billion over 20 years.
That would be paid for by the state’s residential and commercial electric ratepayers through slightly higher bills.
The Baltimore Sun reports that to overcome concerns about the cost to the electricity customers a developer could not charge residential users more than $1.50 a month.
Commercial customers would see a limit of 1.5 percent on their electric bills.
