Small Businesses Oppose Offshore Wind Bill (USA)

Gov. Martin O’Malley’s offshore wind energy bill will face strong opposition tomorrow during the Senate Finance Committee hearing, reports Hometown Annapolis.

Some business owners said that the utility bill is their single biggest bill after payroll.

The bill would increase the energy bills for Maryland residents at USD 2 a month and nonresidential users’ rates by 2.5%.

In spite of this, recent poll shows that nearly 62% Marylanders would pay higher energy bills in support of the offshore wind power.

O’Malley’s wind farm initiative encountered a failure last year mainly because legislators were unwilling to commit to the increased costs the Marylanders would deal with.

In addition, utility companies would have had to make nearly 20-year commitments to buying offshore wind energy.

[mappress]

Offshore WIND staff, February 13, 2012