O’Malley to testify on offshore wind measure

ANNAPOLIS — Gov. Martin O’Malley will be speaking in support of a bill aimed at developing offshore wind energy in Maryland.

O’Malley, a Democrat, is scheduled to testify Tuesday before the Senate Finance Committee.

The governor has made the measure a priority of his legislative agenda again this year.

Last year, a bill that would have required utilities to enter long-term wind power contracts failed due to concerns about the costs to customers.

This time, O’Malley is backing a measure similar to a New Jersey law that sets requirements, but doesn’t require long-term contracts.