OCEAN CITY, Md. - Residents and visitors in Ocean City are being encouraged by the town to attend public meetings regarding proposed wind farms off the coast of the town. Though the town says it is not opposed to wind energy, it is raising concerns about views off its coast being impacted, titling a recent release "Save Our Sunrise."
"The proposed wind farms off the coast of Ocean City will be visible from our beachfront, impacting all residents, property owners and visitors. If the current proposal is approved, our natural viewshed is in danger of being destroyed and lost forever," the town said. "Ocean City supports building a wind farm AND protecting the natural beauty of our beach for our children and grandchildren... We only have one chance to do this, so we need to do it right."
Some of the town's main concerns are the size and amount of wind turbines. It says there could be up to 121 turbines constructed, with each being three times larger than the tallest buildings in the town. It has also expressed its disapproval of the proximity of the turbines to shore.
BACKGROUND
In August of 2014, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management held a competitive lease sale for an area nearly 47,000 acres large located 10 nautical miles off the coast of Ocean City in federal waters. US Wind was identified as the winner of the lease.
There have been concerns raised by local officials and residents since then regarding potential economic and environmental impacts of the construction and operation of the proposed turbines, specifically relating to protecting scenic views along the horizon and the lives of whales and other animals. Ocean City officials have requested halts to wind farm developments in the past.
In Delaware, similar concerns have been shared by folks in Bethany Beach and Fenwick Island. Proposed developer Ørsted, the energy company that is leading the Skipjack Wind project, said the offshore wind industry is subject to standards for protecting marine mammals and protected species 24 hours a day, like speed restrictions and having trained observers onboard to watch for animals.
One of the developments needed for offshore wind production to proceed is a site to bring cables onshore. Courtesy Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
Also in response, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has funded multiple studies to collect information about the marine environment that it hopes will support decisions about offshore renewable energy development.
One of those studies identified hotspots within a larger list of potentially impacted counties. In the study, hotspots were locations within a county with unique economic, social or physical characteristics that distinguish them from the county to which they belong. Distinctions included dependence on a specific type of tourism or marine activity and reputation for natural landscapes, among others.
Ocean City and Rehoboth Beach were identified as hotspots, and the study states further analysis is warranted on the impact of wind farm development in these areas.
"... Anticipated impacts to not necessarily correspond with actual impacts," said the report, which was prepared under a contract between the bureau and ICF Incorporated.
The study concluded that there is little to no negative impact on recreational boating or fishing and that positive effects may result in diving and fishing, as the turbine foundations could act as artificial reefs and attract fish. It also noted a potential for a new wind facility-based tourism industry, as European studies have indicated that tourists are interested in visiting them. On the other hand, it showed that the impact of an offshore wind facility on the aesthetics of coastal areas is the primary factor that could potentially affect recreational and tourism use.
Overall, little information was found directly or indirectly pertaining to impacts of offshore wind energy development on recreational and tourism economies. Current studies are limited due to the ongoing nature of the development of these types of projects. It did note, however, that similar studies in Europe showed that opinions that sit around acceptance or slight disapproval of wind farms during the development stage became more positive when the facilities went operational.
Virtual hearings on the proposed Ocean City wind farms are scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 19 at 1 p.m. and on Monday, Oct. 30 at 5 p.m. In-person public hearings will be held at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 24 at Ocean City Elementary School and Thursday, Oct. 26 at Indian River High School. The public comment period ends on Nov. 20.