Maryland can spur investment in offshore wind energy

As one of Maryland’s manufacturing companies, we enthusiastically support The Sun’s position on the offshore wind power legislation now before the state Senate (“Wind picks up steam,” Feb. 25).

The Sun’s position provides a realistic description of the balance between commercial investment uncertainties and the very large potential to create jobs, new manufacturing and renewable sources of energy.

The state’s role in offshore wind energy is as a catalyst for commercial investment. There is no assurance that such investment will occur in Maryland, but without the state’s forward-looking strategy, the manufacturing jobs associated with offshore wind are likely to be captured by other states.

This is a critical time for Maryland to provide the small catalysts that could bring a new industry and a lot of jobs to the state over the coming decades.

Mark Rice, Baltimore

The writer is president of the Maritime Applied Physics Corporation.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/