Groups say HB 1168 will immediately shut down $200 million wind farm investment on Eastern Shore and trigger $1 billion in lost economic development and jobs for one of the state’s poorest regions
HB 1168 called totally unjustified given the U.S. Department of Defense’s statement this week that it is satisfied a proposed wind farm can co-exist with Naval radar tests
ANNAPOLIS—A group of business, farmer, labor rights, and environmental leaders today announced their strong opposition to legislation they said is intended to shut down most of Maryland’s land-based wind industry and could cost the state up to a billion dollars in lost business and jobs.
The leaders released an open letter (included below) to the Maryland Senate detailing their overwhelming opposition to HB 1168. They contend that the bill, which will go before a Senate committee on Tuesday, April 1, is a patently unnecessary and harmful attempt to shut down Eastern Shore wind development over military testing concerns that have already been resolved to the satisfaction of the Department of Defense.
Leaders emphasized the growing opposition to the bill, which now includes the president of the Somerset County Farm Bureau, the Maryland League of Conservation Voters, the Labor Network for Sustainability, and the Mid-Atlantic Renewable Energy Coalition.
Leaders also addressed false reports in the media. U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski does not support HB 1168. She has not taken a position on the bill and has not lobbied to kill or support it.
The full letter follows below. Key leaders who oppose HB 1168 released the following statements:
Joe Uehlein, Director, Labor Network for Sustainability: “Wind power on the Eastern Shore is a clear instance where a cleaner environment also means putting Marylanders to work. Wind energy could help revitalize Maryland’s struggling industrial sector if HB 1168 doesn’t pull the rug out from Maryland workers first.”
Mary Ann Peterman, a fourth generation landowner in Somerset County whose property is an active farmland: “Revenue from wind power can be huge for farmers, especially small farmers, on the Eastern Shore. HB 1168 takes economic opportunities away from an area of the state than can least afford it.”
Bruce Burcat, Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Renewable Energy Coalition: “The Eastern Shore could be a $1 billion investment for the wind industry. Our companies are ready to build here, but if HB 1168 passes, then this would certainly present a deterrence for any company from considering to make an investment here.”
Karla Raettig, Executive Director, Maryland League of Conservation Voters: “For the past eight years, the O’Malley administration has made great strides in advancing wind power for our state and sent a clear message that Maryland is ready to lead our region’s transition into a clean energy economy. But, HB 1168 would send a message that Maryland wants to put a devastating hold on our actions to combat climate change. That is unacceptable. The Senate must reject it.”
View the full text of the letter below or view the PDF online here.
Contact:
Kelly Trout, 240-396-2022, kelly@chesapeakeclimate.org
Tommy Landers, 301-442-0134 (cell), tommy@chesapeakeclimate.org

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OPEN LETTER OPPOSING HB 1168, RELEASED BY OPPONENTS TODAY:

Chesapeake Bay Foundation ● Maryland League of Conservation Voters ● Mid-Atlantic Renewable Energy Coalition ● Sierra Club – Maryland Chapter ● Maryland Environmental Health Network ● Clean Water Action ● Environment Maryland ● Assateague Coastal Trust ● Chesapeake Climate Action Network ● Food & Water Watch ● League of Women Voters of Maryland ● Interfaith Power & Light (MD.DC.NoVA) ● West/Rhode Riverkeeper ● Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry for Maryland ● Eddie Johnson, President – Somerset County Farm Bureau

Dear Maryland Senators,
We are writing to clarify the record on one of the most important bills you will be asked to vote on during this legislative session, the so-called “anti-wind power” bill or HB 1168. As leaders from the fields of business, agriculture, labor rights, and the environment, we are positively alarmed by the harm that would come from HB 1168. If passed, it would effectively shut down an emerging $1 billion wind industry on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.
But the very good news is this: The U.S. Department of Defense officially stated recently that it believes that the Great Bay Wind Energy Center – the state’s largest most mature wind farm in development – can be built and operated in a way that satisfies radar testing needs at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station. This essentially resolves the core reason supporters of HB 1168 introduced the bill. Again, for the first time, the DOD indicated this week that an agreement – already agreed to by a key wind company developing along the Eastern Shore – makes the DOD satisfied. That agreement is simple: The proposed Eastern Shore wind turbines will totally shut down and stop spinning whenever the Navy needs to test its radar system. After the test, the windmills can spin again. This approach, according to the DOD, creates “a feasible and affordable mitigation measure.”
That’s the good news. The bad news is that, if HB 1168 passes despite DOD satisfaction with radar measures, then the state of Maryland – and especially Eastern Shore communities, laborers, and farmers – will lose enormously. This is guaranteed. The president of one proposed wind farm in Somerset County – Pioneer Green – has emphatically stated that HB 1168 will kill the $200 million wind farm just as construction is nearly ready to begin. Passage of the bill will place a moratorium on wind development in all or parts of 12 Maryland counties, sending a message to the national and international wind industries that Maryland is effectively closed for business. The potential loss of investment opportunity for the Eastern Shore is conservatively estimated by the Maryland Energy Administration to exceed $1 billion. Simultaneously, a wind turbine manufacturing company currently considering opening a Baltimore plant may choose to go elsewhere if this bill passes. The cumulative loss of jobs, income, tax revenue and other economic benefits would be enormous.
Therefore, we appeal to you to carefully consider what is best for ALL of Maryland. HB 1168 will harm the entire state of Maryland – for decades to come – in an unnecessary attempt to resolve a problem that has already been resolved. Our state has made tremendous progress over the past decade in the fight for clean energy and a stable climate. Please do not vote to end that.
Sincerely,
Assateague Coastal Trust
Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Chesapeake Climate Action Network
Clean Water Action
Environment Maryland
Food & Water Watch
Interfaith Power & Light (MD.DC.NoVA)
League of Women Voters of Maryland
Maryland Environmental Health Network
Maryland League of Conservation Voters
Mid-Atlantic Renewable Energy Coalition
Sierra Club – Maryland Chapter
Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry for Maryland
West/Rhode Riverkeeper
Eddie Johnson, President, Somerset County Farm Bureau