Maryland Offers Offshore Wind Grants

The Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) is launching two offshore wind grants for the 2020 fiscal year, with combined funds of approximately $3 million. Nearly $1.6m will go the Maryland Offshore Wind Capex Program and remaining to the Maryland Offshore Wind Workforce Training Program.

Maryland Offshore Wind Workforce Training program provides grant funding on a competitive basis to support Maryland’s workforce entering the offshore wind industry.

Both new and existing workforce development training centers, focused on offshore wind industry can apply.

Training centers must provide the education of a technical trade skill(s) and safety standards utilized for the development, construction, and operations and maintenance phases of an offshore wind project.

The training center must provide technical and safety training at no cost to all participating students. Applicants must provide an outreach plan to prospective students from historically under-served communities, including but not limited to minorities, women, and veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Additionally, applicants must demonstrate how project proposals will benefit Maryland’s emerging businesses, including minority-owned emerging businesses.

Maryland Offshore Wind Capex program provides grant funding on a competitive basis to help defray capital expenditure investments for Maryland’s emerging businesses, including minority owned emerging businesses, entering the offshore wind industry. Both new or existing Maryland businesses engaged in the offshore wind industry may apply.