OC commissioners continue to push back against US Wind’s offshore wind project

OCEAN CITY, Md. – Worcester County commissioners are pushing back against US Wind’s plans to bring offshore wind turbines, about 11 miles off of Ocean City’s coast.

Commissioner, Eric Fiori said the county is looking to purchase two properties in the West Ocean city Commercial Maritime Harbor, the same place where US Wind plans to build an operations and maintenance facility.

“Allowing companies like US Wind, or anyone that would threaten that industry, is a concern of the residents and a concern of the county commissioners,” Fiori said. “By doing this, we’re trying to preserve a legacy, or a way of life, here, in Worcester County, of making money from the sea.”

Ocean City’s commercial fishing industry dates back decades and it’s how many in the town make their living. Fiori said this move by the commissioners was not just to protect the history, but the waterman who are vital to Maryland’s Eastern Shore as well.

“Our fish market here and our seafood market here in the Ocean City area has been part of our heritage for many years. I mean, commissioners before us thought well enough to create a zoning code just to protect it within the harbor itself,” Fiori said.

US Wind officials, however, said they won’t hesitate to challenge the commissioners’ new scheme in court. In a statement, spokesperson, Nancy Sopko said US Wind is working with stakeholders to draft a memorandum of understanding to mitigate any impacts the project will have on the harbor.

Sopko said, “US Wind’s commitment to building energy projects that help meet the region’s surging demand is unchanged.”

Fiori, meanwhile, maintains the fight has only begun. “We listen to our constituents, here, in Worcester County, as well as my own personal sentiments on this,” he told WMDT.

“The idea of developing our ocean for any reason at all is just unacceptable for me; I believe it’s unacceptable for our residents,” Fiori added.