Ocean City, Maryland, has initiated legal proceedings to challenge the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management's (BOEM) recent approval of US Wind Inc.'s plan to develop an over 2-GW offshore wind farm near the Mid-Atlantic coast.
The town is seeking to revoke the permit, citing potential adverse impacts on its coastline, local economy, tourism, and fishing industry.
According to an official statement, the city believes that both procedural and substantive issues are at stake. Law firm Marzulla Law LLC will represent Ocean City, with support from organizations including the Ocean City Development Corporation, the Greater Ocean City Chamber of Commerce, and representatives of the commercial and recreational fishing sectors, who are joining as co-plaintiffs.
Mayor Rick Meehan expressed the town's commitment to safeguarding its ecosystem and local economy, stating that Ocean City has been raising concerns with state and federal officials for over seven years.
The contested project, planned to begin approximately 10.7 miles offshore, received BOEM's green light with a Record of Decision issued to US Wind, majority-owned by Italy's Renexia SpA.
The project is set to be deployed in phases, with MarWin and Momentum Wind securing state offshore renewable energy certificates for a combined capacity of approximately 1.1 GW.
See Also
- US Wind Project in Maryland Reaches Milestone with Environmental Impact Statement
- US Plans Major Offshore Wind Lease Sale in Central Atlantic
- U.S. Department of the Interior Proposes Offshore Wind Lease Sale in Central Atlantic
- BOEM Releases Final Environmental Assessment for Offshore Wind Development in Central Atlantic
- Vineyard Wind Faces Increased Risk of Blade Detachment at Massachusetts Offshore Project
