OCEAN CITY, Md.- Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan is voicing strong opposition after the Maryland Department of the Environment approved permits for the proposed US Wind offshore wind project.
In a statement released Friday, Meehan accused the state agency of disregarding feedback from Ocean City officials, local business leaders, and residents who raised concerns during the public comment period.
"The entire economy of our coastal resort town is dependent on tourism, our ecosystem, and commercial fishing, all of which will be significantly impacted," Meehan said, citing concerns over the project's scale and visibility from shore.
The US Wind project includes plans to install 114 turbines roughly 10 miles off the Ocean City coast.
Meehan argued the state is prioritizing political goals over local input and warned of potential environmental and economic consequences. He also criticized comparisons to smaller offshore wind projects, such as Block Island in Rhode Island, saying the scope of US Wind’s development is far larger.
Meehan said Ocean City officials plan to continue opposing the project through legal channels and with the help of policymakers.