AUGUST 2, 2024
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Wind farm no threat to environment So says Bureau of Ocean Energy Management in its environmental impact statement for US Wind’s offshore wind project. OC officials say lawsuit possible. — Page 3
C-c-c-c-cold water leaves HAND-OUT
PHOTO COURTESY ANTHONY BALSIMO
Freya Newlin of Dauphin, Pennsylvania, finds that this laughing gull at Assateague is more than happy to accept her offering during her trip there last weekend with her family, including her stepfather, Army Sgt. 1st Class Anthony Balsimo of Ft. Belvoir, Virginia, who snapped the photo.
Dang! That was one icy ocean a couple of weeks ago off Ocean City’s beach. The wind and earth’s rotation were to blame.— Page 12
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AUGUST 2, 2024
OC Today-Dispatch
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Ocean City confirms wind farm ‘legal action’ possible By Bethany Hooper Associate Editor (Aug. 2, 2024) An offshore wind company is one step closer in its effort to construct a project off Maryland’s coast, but the Town of Ocean City reports it will consider filing a lawsuit should a federal permit be issued. On Monday, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management announced its final environmental impact statement (EIS) for US Wind’s proposed offshore wind project will be available to the public this week. While company leadership applauded the news, City Manager Terry McGean said the resort continues in its fight against the planned wind farm. “The actual EIS is not available to view until published in the Federal Register on Aug. 2,” he said on Monday. “We are reviewing what documents they have released. Once the full EIS is made public, there will be a minimum 30-day public comment/waiting period. We will thoroughly review the full document and comment. After the waiting period, BOEM will issue a Record of Decision. That document essentially serves as the permit. Depending on what the ROD states, we may then take legal action.” In October, BOEM announced a draft environmental impact statement on US Wind’s Construction and Operations Plan (COP) would be available for public review. Simply put, the environmental impact statement evaluates the impact of the proposed project on the surrounding environment and informs BOEM’s decision whether to approve or disapprove the project or approve the project with modifications. In the weeks that followed, the fed-
eral agency held several virtual and in-person meetings to allow community members to view the company’s plans for its offshore wind project, to be located off the coast of Ocean City. And in November, at the close of the public comment period, BOEM began parsing through the 1,150 comments it had received. While those in opposition argue the project would affect viewsheds, property values, offshore fishing and wildlife, those in support say the project supports renewable energy goals and local jobs. Responding to Monday’s announcement, US Wind CEO Jeff Grybowski said the final environmental impact statement puts the company one step closer to bringing the project to fruition. “We are well on our way to putting Maryland’s offshore wind goals that much closer to reality,” he said in a statement. “We applaud BOEM for the comprehensive and thorough review of our federal permit application. We are now one step closer to securing all of our federal permits by the end of this year and look forward to the day we can get steel in the water.” US Wind’s COP considers the full build-out of the federal lease area, which has the potential to generate up to two gigawatts of offshore wind power, US Wind reports. BOEM’s final EIS is a major milestone in the two-year National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process, indicating the company’s plans are nearly through the federal review process. The next step is for BOEM to issue a Record of Decision on US Wind’s COP, which is expected in September 2024. Other cooperating federal agencies and state agencies are exSee OFFSHORE Page 6
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