Maryland Governor O'Malley Vetoes Bill That Delayed Offshore Wind Farm

Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley (D), left, on Friday vetoed a bill that would have delayed a proposed wind farm in Somerset County.  The bill passed the General Assembly with a strong, veto-proof majority. The delay was also backed by U.S. Sens. Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.) and Benjamin L. Cardin (D-Md.).

U.S. House Minority Whip Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.) opposes the wind project believing it would compromise radar that tests the stealth capabilities of fighter jets at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, just across the Chesapeake Bay.

In the final days of Maryland’s annual legislative session, at the urging of Hoyer and lawmakers from Southern Maryland, the General Assembly voted to delay wind projects within 56 miles of the base until June 2015 — effectively killing plans for the Great Bay Wind Center.  The vote was 31 to 16 in the Senate and 112 to 22 in the House.  (Wash Post, 5/16/2014)