WORCESTER COUNTY, Md. -- The offshore wind company is still moving forward with plans for a facility in the West Ocean City Harbor. County leaders have taken issue with this, because U.S. Wind's desired location could uproot the commercial fishing industry.
UPDATE:
We confirmed on Thursday, August 15th that U.S. Wind has plans to offer a compensation package to commercial fisherman who operate out of the West Ocean City Harbor. It's part of the energy company's proposed plans for an operations and maintenance facility.
U.S. Wind provided us with the following statement:
"US Wind is adopting a compensation program to benefit commercial and for-hire recreational fishermen, a measure BOEM recognized as effective in our FEIS," US Wind’s senior director of external affairs, Nancy Sopko said. "US Wind and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources signed a Letter of Intent in July 2024 to develop a fisheries compensatory mitigation program by early 2025. Such a mitigation program could include financial assistance, assistance with equipment upgrades or training, and other services. We look forward to working with the state on outreach to the fishing community to further develop details of this mitigation program."
We spoke with Captain Kerry Harrington on Thursday, who operates his business out of the West Ocean City Harbor. Harrington told us his livelihood is not for sale.
"For me to say 'oh yeah I'll take the money and then leave, that's going to jeopardize the future of my grandkids and their kids, so it really needs to stop here before it goes any further," said Harrington.
He said this potential compensation package feels like U.S. Wind's way of taking over the harbor.
"This is their way of schmoozing people to get in the door so they can, you know, continue their project that we don't want anyway," said Harrington.
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The packhouse at the end of the harbor allows commercial fisherman to make their living in West Ocean City. That packhouse however, sits on the property where U.S. plans on building a new facility.
Dave Wilson with U.S. Wind told us on Wednesday, they didn't find the property on their own.
"We were approached by the two property owners at the harbor, we did not approach them they approached us, and we needed some space there," said Wilson.
U.S. Wind needed an area to build office space, according to Wilson.
"It's not industrialization of the harbor, we're not putting blades or turbine monopiles to that site, it's just an office building and a couple more boats," said Wilson.
U.S. Wind applied to the Maryland Department of the Environment for a license that would allow them to replace the current pier at the harbor with a 353 foot concrete pier.
Worcester County Commissioner Joe Mitrecic said the size of that pier, in relation to U.S. Wind's overall plans, makes him skeptical.
"Well it's an awful big project for an office building I have to tell you that," said Mitrecic. "To purchase two properties that actually contain our fishery buyers, I mean I don't understand why it has to be a 300 something foot long dock then."
Wilson said the impact to local fisherman is something U.S. Wind has taken into account.
"We've been working with DNR(Maryland Department of Natural Resources) on that, we have a letter of intent about mitigation and ways to compensate the commercial fisherman and woman," said Wilson. "As soon as that's executed we'll start to discuss terms with the commercial guys and gals there."
Mitrecic believes it's an empty promise.
"This whole process has been a bait-and-switch since the beginning, it really has," said Mitrecic.
Maryland's Board of Public Works has to give U.S. Wind final approval before the pier project can move forward. There is a public comment period open until August 20th.
Once the comment period closes, BPW will schedule a hearing where a decision is expected. Mitrecic said he, along with other county commissioners, will attend the hearing to testify in opposition.