An offshore wind project in Delaware has just passed the last major hurdle - getting the utility to agree to a contract with the developer. The legislature just last month passed the last legislation necessary to go forward.

“Delmarva Power signed a landmark offshore wind power deal with Bluewater Wind on Monday, agreeing to buy enough power to light 50,000 homes in Delaware for the next 25 years,” reports Delaware Online (”Offshore wind pact OK’d for Delaware”). Read the rest here.

And in even better news… a couple of days ago Maryland’s Governor Martin O’Malley in response to Bush’s push for exploration of offshore oil drilling not only condemned that push (”I think it’s dishonest. I think it’s callous. I think it’s crass.”) but enthusiastically embraced the idea of joining Delaware in supporting offshore wind.

From the Baltimore Sun:

“Maryland’s support for the turbines 11 to 12 miles off Rehoboth Beach could be crucial toward launching the United States’ first offshore wind energy project - one that potentially could produce enough power for hundreds of thousands of homes.

O’Malley’s statement of interest in offshore wind power came in response to questions at a news conference about his position on President Bush’s decision to lift an executive order prohibiting oil drilling off most of the U.S. coastline, a move that leaves a congressionally imposed ban in place.

The governor rejected Bush’s position in harsh terms - calling the argument that it would help lower fuel prices “patently false” - before volunteering that the proposed project off the Delaware coast is “one offshore effort I would like to go in on.”

So the next logical question… where’s Governor Kaine???

It’s also interesting to note that both the mayors of Ocean City (MD) and Rehoboth (DE) join Virginia Beach’s Mayor, Meyera Oberndorf, in opposing offshore drilling.