A proposed offshore wind project off Maryland’s coast is encountering resistance from the nearby community of Ocean City. The city challenged the federal government’s approval of the development and filed a lawsuit against the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM). The project aims to generate over 2 gigawatts of renewable energy, potentially powering more than 700,000 homes.
The planned wind farm, located approximately 10 miles off Maryland’s coast, will consist of 1,143 turbines, each exceeding 900 feet in height. Ocean City, several industry groups and Fenwick Island, Delaware, are moving forward with the litigation process against this development in response to concerns about the project’s impact on tourism, fishing and the environment.
Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan claimed the city’s years-long collaboration with state officials to address these concerns has been met with inadequate responses. He added that the large-scale wind farm could significantly alter the community’s coastline and local economy.
Environmental concerns, particularly for marine wildlife, are also central to the opposition. Local residents worry about potential harm to whale populations from construction activities.
“We have a responsibility to protect our ecosystem, our economy, view shed and our future,” Meehan said in a statement. “For the past seven and half years we have been trying to work with the State of Maryland and the federal government to address our concerns with this project. All of our concerns were either ignored or considered insignificant. It is unfortunate that it has come to this, but the Town was left with no choice but to file suit against BOEM.”
Just days before news of the lawsuit broke, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) established protective regulations to safeguard marine mammals during construction, including required monitoring, safe distancing, and noise reduction measures. These protections will be in effect for five years, with the potential for adjustments as more information about the project’s environmental impact becomes available.