In Ocean City, does criticism of offshore wind hold water?
Baltimore Sun Editorial
At the Roland E. Powell Convention Center in Ocean City, local officials have posted a sign: “SAVE THE OCEAN. STOP THE TURBINES.” It’s not subtle. And while it’s possible that some passersby will have no idea what those “TURBINES” are about or how they threaten the ocean, it’s clear everyone in elected office sure does. Their anger is directed at the proposed US Wind offshore wind farm more than 10 miles offshore.
Last week, the Maryland Department of the Environment approved an air quality permit for the project, the last major hurdle, at least on the state level, for as many as 114 turbines to be built off the Maryland and Delaware coast generating enough electricity to power 718,000 homes.
One might think that clean energy would be especially appealing to a community that stakes its livelihood on sand and surf and where rising sea levels pose an especially grave danger. But, no, not at all. Elected officials are universally up in arms including their condemnation of the MDE permit. A “poorly conceived and potentially disastrous offshore wind project” was how Mayor Richard W. Meehan described it, adding that the resort town and its economy “will be significantly impacted if hundreds of these giant eyesores are constructed 10 miles from our beaches.”