Ocean City, MD – Senator Mary Beth Carozza joined a local delegation led by Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan that traveled to Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, April 30 to request a moratorium on any Federal activity allowing the construction of offshore wind farms off Maryland’s Coast. The delegation included Worcester County Commissioner Joe Mitrecic who represents Ocean City; Town of Ocean City Manager Terry McGean; and Adam Showell, Jr., owner and operator of oceanfront Castle in the Sand Hotel in Ocean City.

The delegation met with U.S. Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Brett Guthrie of Kentucky to request his assistance in halting Maryland’s offshore wind energy project. During the meeting, Mayor Meehan led off by outlining the substantial threat of industrializing the ocean with offshore wind farms on the tourism economy as well as on commercial fishing, marine life, and safety related to marine traffic and military radar.

In addition, Mayor Meehan highlighted the true cost to the Maryland ratepayer of the US Wind tax at $12.83 per month and the actual cost increase for electricity supply costs for a business is 25 percent. This does not include the additional costs for constructing battery storage facilities and other infrastructure necessary to support offshore wind power.

During the meeting, Senator Carozza pointed out the many unanswered questions and concerns that were raised during the Offshore Wind Congressional hearing held in Ocean City in January 2024 and that the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has failed to present a non-biased conclusion that offshore wind energy development off Maryland’s Coast is in the best interest of the community and has failed to show that offshore wind energy development would be a reliable and affordable energy source.

While on Capitol Hill, the Ocean City delegation also met with Congressman Andy Harris, member of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee and strong opponent of offshore wind energy development. The Maryland Offshore Wind presentation also was shared with staff of U.S. Senator Susan Collins, who is Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Letters to U.S. Interior Department Secretary Doug Burgum requesting the Trump Administration halt Maryland’s offshore wind energy project have been sent by Congressman Harris, Senator Carozza, and Mayor Meehan.

“We presented a unified front in our strong opposition to US Wind’s offshore wind energy project and to the industrialization of our ocean,” said Senator Carozza. “There are multiple negative impacts from tourism to commercial fishing to marine life, boat traffic, and military communications, plus it’s the most expensive way to generate energy. We have made a strong case for the federal government to stop US Wind’s offshore wind energy project in Maryland just as New York’s offshore wind project was halted last month.”