Gov.Martin O'Malley's offshore wind bill seems to be much ado about nothing ("A better wind bill," April 2). Offshore wind energy is so prohibitively expensive that it is not well positioned to gain major traction in the coming years. According to the Energy Information Administration's cost assessment, offshore wind is projected to be four times as expensive as advanced combined cycle natural gas in the year 2016. With the imposition of a price cap, investment is unlikely to proceed without additional state and federal subsidies, which will inevitably be financed by the taxpayer.
Instead of chasing a dubious industry built only on a foundation of government support systems, the governor would be better off reducing government intervention in energy markets, thereby allowing Maryland residents to have the lowest electricity rates attainable.
John Monaghan, Chicago, Illinois.
The writer is the energy and environment legislative specialist at The Heartland Institute.