The battle over the offshore wind project along the Ocean City coastline saw opponents gather in the resort town in what has become a public relations war. Delmarva Public Media's Kevin Diaz was there and has this report.
RUSH: President Trump's opposition to wind power has put some gusts into the sails of regional leaders in Ocean City. But it's not just a legal battle - it's also a public relations one, with pro and anti-wind forces marshalling their supporters in dueling meetings around the Eastern Shore. Some have become boisterous as Delmarva Public Media's Kevin Diaz found out on Monday night at a public gathering in the Ocean City, MD Convention Center.
DIAZ: It was billed as a public information session. But this panel of local government and business leaders had a very definite view of US Winds' plan to construct 121 wind turbines 10 miles off the coast.
MEEHAN: It would devastate the views off the coast of Ocean City.
DIAZ: That was Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan.
MEEHAN: This project would totally industrialize our view shed and have a negative impact on our tourism industry, our property values, and our economy. Tourism is our only industry. It's a billion dollar industry, and we send over $400 million in tax revenue to the state of Maryland and the federal government. What we have works here in Ocean City.
DIAZ: Then there was Natalie Magdeburger, the mayor of Fenwick Island, Delaware.
MAGDEBURGER: This is not green. It's not clean, it's not reliable, it's not economical, it would devastate our marine environment, it would have a negative impact on our tourism industry and the local jobs that our tourism industry supports.
DIAZ: The panel was unanimous in its opposition to the project, questioning its environmental,health and economic benefits. They were brought together by Stop Offshore Wind, a group spearheaded by Ocean City and the Worcester County Office of Tourism and Economic Development. They, along with allies and other coastal communities in Maryland and Delaware, have been at the forefront of efforts to revoke the federal approvals granted under President Biden. Some of the 200 odd people packing this room were commercial fishermen who worry about the future of the West Ocean City Harbor.
GWIN: I am the wife and mother of commercial fishermen.
DIAZ: That's Jeanene Gwin, vice President of the Waterman's Association of Worcester County.
GWIN: It has been our lifestyle. It has supported our family for 40 years. When asked if how this would affect their ability to fish and make a living, it will end commercial fishing in West Ocean City and Ocean City.
DIAZ: The stakes felt personal, so when a member of the audience asked to present an opposing viewpoint, he was shut down.
UNNAMED SPEAKER: But I'm going to ask that I give permission to give an opposition to what has been said tonight, and I promise you I will spend less than the five minutes than any of your panelists. No, I guess then you're afraid.
DIAZ: A suggestion that the panel members accepted money from the oil industry was also shot down by Worcester County Chief Administrative Officer, Weston Young.
YOUNG: I am with Worcester County Government. This is an Ocean City employee. You can see our records. Clearly we do not get money from [oil.]
UNNAMED SPEAKER: I'm glad to hear that, I will accept that answer, but let me just say, Let me just say that.... (individual is booed, and their microphone is cut as per the request of someone near the microphone.)
DIAZ: A representative of US Wind attended the session but declined to give a public comment. Instead, backers of the Offshore Wind Project were represented by Michael Freeman of the Oceantic Network, a trade group supporting offshore wind development. Freeman tided the benefits of wind energy and said many of Ocean City's concerns can be addressed.
FREEMAN: There's a lot of misinformation. A lot of these things that they were talking about have some basis in truth of course, these are intelligent people. But they talk about impacts through tours and things. They talk about things that are frankly overblown. They're ignoring information and data out of Europe about how their tourism industry is going.
DIAZ: But the fight is far from settled, as Maryland State Senator Mary Beth Carozza have made clear to the crowd.
CAROZZA: We are resolved together. This Stop Offshore Wind movement to fight to the end to protect our shore way of life.
DIAZ: For Delmarva Public Media, this is Kevin Diaz in Ocean City.
