Maryland Ahead Of The Game In Energy Independence

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Energy independence is expected to be one of the key themes in President Barack Obama's State of the Union address.  Tuesday, new research suggests the entire world could stop using fossil fuels in 20 years if we had the political will.

Adam May reports Maryland is already implementing parts of the idea.

Right now, 80 percent of the world's energy comes from polluting fossil fuels, but new research published in the Energy Journal says it doesn't have to be that way.  It found four million wind turbines, 100,000 solar power plants, 1.7 billion residential solar collectors, 200 new hydroelectric plants and 1.2 million tidal turbines could power the entire planet.

"I think aspiration is an important part of all progress," said Kelly Speakes-Backman, the director of Maryland's Clean Energy program. 

She says the study is an ambitious version of what's already happening here.

"Maryland is taking its own aspiration and trying to work toward our 20 percent renewable portfolio standard by 2022," Speakes-Backman said.

More than 1,400 residents have been awarded solar power grants in the last five years and the state's first wind farm just went online a few weeks ago in Garrett County, now producing enough electricity to power 21,000 homes.

Constellation Energy recently showed an exclusive look at the project, but they also expressed concerns about a lack of government incentives to build more turbines.

"We're frustrated it's taking as long as it's taking," an official said.

Weeks ago, federal officials came to Baltimore to announce a new plan to expand wind power.  It focused on the development of an offshore wind farm, 10 miles off the coast of Ocean City.

"I would say, 2016, we could see something happening," Speakes-Backman said.

Something that would make Maryland a clean energy leader, but still far from 100 percent green.  The study doesn't estimate the cost, which would obviously be staggering and the biggest challenge in the current economy.

The research only analyzed technologies that already exist.