Ocean City wind farm project sparks debate on Eastern Shore

Residents of Ocean City may soon witness a transformation in their beachfront scenery as U.S. Wind plans to develop a wind farm off Maryland's coast. Renderings submitted to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management offer a glimpse of what the horizon might look like on clear days, igniting a contentious debate among local communities.

The proposed offshore wind project has divided opinions, leading to the emergence of a movement dubbed Stop Offshore Wind. Critics like Sonny Gwin, a waterman with four decades of fishing experience, voiced concerns about the environmental impact. "They're not good for the environment and if they want to save the environment because of climate change, why would you go destroy an environment to try to save something?" Gwin questioned, emphasizing fears about the effects on marine life. He specifically cited the blue crab, a vital species in Maryland, and expressed worry that the wind farm could disrupt their lifecycle and negatively impact small fish dependent on this habitat.

According to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management's Final Environmental Impact Statement, the wind farm could potentially disturb local wildlife, degrade water and air quality, and have adverse effects on Ocean City's recreation and tourism industries—key economic drivers for the region.

On the other side of the debate, residents like Kathy Phillips advocate for the project, highlighting the pressing issue of climate change. Phillips, concerned about the vulnerability of the Delmarva Peninsula to sea level rise and storms, argued, "We are one of the main areas along the coastlines of the entire U.S. that is most susceptible to sea level rise and storm inundation. I don't tend to look at it from the me. How is this impacting me? Because quite frankly, I think that's the wrong argument to be holding right now. We need to get away from higher carbon emissions." She dismissed fears that the wind turbines would depress property values or rental incomes, suggesting that misinformation by a vocal minority has exaggerated the perceived impacts.

Political opposition has also emerged, notably from Senator Mary Beth Carozza. She emphasized the scarcity of oceanfront land in Maryland and expressed concerns over the visual presence of turbines. "We don't want to be known for the beach town where you can see the turbines. That's not what we want to be known for," Carozza stated. Additionally, she voiced apprehensions about the potential loss of fishing industry jobs, questioning whether employment opportunities would truly increase or if existing jobs could be jeopardized, especially in tourism and commercial fishing sectors.

Conversely, supporters like Bill Chambers of the Salisbury Chamber of Commerce see the wind farm as an economic opportunity. He pointed out that while the project may not generate tens of thousands of jobs, it will create new employment opportunities not previously available in Maryland. Chambers, a member of the Lower Shore Wind Alliance, views offshore wind development as a crucial step toward diversifying the state's energy sources amidst rising energy costs.

As the debate continues, Senator Carozza has called for a federal review and potential halt of the project, paralleling efforts seen in other regions. "If a decision could be made to halt New York's offshore wind energy project, then we want the same halt to Maryland's offshore energy project, and we have made an official request," she affirmed. Currently, U.S. Wind has secured final approval for its construction and operations plan, with aims to develop multiple wind farms capable of generating 8.5 gigawatts of electricity in Maryland.

Attempts to obtain interviews with U.S. Wind were unsuccessful, as the company declined our interview request but provided statements from supporters of the project. The ongoing discussions encapsulate the multifaceted views of an evolving energy landscape and the delicate balance between environmental, economic, and community interests along Maryland's eastern coast.