Opponents should laud new energy
Editor,
Affordable energy is on the horizon – President Trump is threatening its possibility
For decades, Ocean City has been powered by energy sources that we don’t see: coal plants far inland, gas pipelines snaking through other people’s communities, and transmission lines that bring power in from elsewhere. Now, we have an opportunity to generate sustainable, affordable electricity right off our shores with the MarWin offshore wind project. Unfortunately, political threats, including President Trump’s call to cancel offshore wind projects, could rob Ocean City of this chance.
As someone who grew up here, was inspired by our beaches and wetlands to protect our coast, and spent the last decade working in energy policy, I want to share a few key facts about why offshore wind is not a threat to our way of life, but rather, an opportunity. I know many of you are skeptical, but hear me out. I want what is best for our community, I want to bring my future kids here to enjoy everything I did growing up, and I want it to be a better world here – more than anywhere else!– because this is my home.
I have worked across 14 energy sectors and honestly, offshore wind has always been my favorite. I went around our country and the world to learn what works and I believe the pros by far outweigh the cons for our community.
- Offshore Wind Will Lower Electricity Bills: Your electricity bills are not going up because of offshore wind projects. The power you’re using today mostly comes from fossil fuels like natural gas, which experience big price spikes at the whim of volatile oil and gas markets and unpredictable supply chain disruptions. That is what is driving your bill up – not an offshore wind that has not even been built yet. In fact, offshore wind would drive energy prices down. Once those projects come online, they will help stabilize prices by reducing our reliance on expensive, unpredictable fossil fuels.
- Offshore Wind Will Not Harm the Fishing Industry: Contrary to popular belief, offshore wind can support, not hurt, local fishing. Turbine foundations act as artificial reefs, attracting marine life and boosting fish stocks. A 2020 University of Rhode Island study found no negative impacts near the Block Island Wind Farm; some fishers even reported improved catches. Regulators also collaborate with the fishing community to ensure safe navigation and coexistence. For Maryland’s fishermen, offshore wind offers a path to healthier oceans and more resilient livelihoods.
- Offshore Wind is a Reliable, Sustainable Alternative: Unlike fossil fuels, which pump carbon into the atmosphere and drive the very sea-level rise that threatens Ocean City, offshore wind is clean. Each turbine can power thousands of homes without emitting greenhouse gases. Offshore wind also pairs well with other renewables: when the sun isn’t shining, strong offshore winds often are blowing.
And yes, I know some of you are worried about how the turbines will look. But let’s put that in perspective.
Right now, most of our energy comes from infrastructure you’ll never see like smokestacks in other counties, pipelines running through someone else’s backyard, power plants miles away. This would be the first time our energy infrastructure is visible, and there’s something powerful about that. These turbines don’t spew pollution, they won’t make kids sick, instead they’ll stand as symbols of clean energy and local resilience — something we can be proud of.
As for the view: we’ve all seen the fear-mongering billboards showing massive turbines looming over the beach. That’s not reality. These turbines will be 10 nautical miles offshore. On a clear day, yes, you will spot them on the horizon but they won’t be anywhere near the sand or surf.
The real threat to Ocean City is not the potentially faint sight of turbines miles offshore. It is clinging to the old, expensive, and polluting ways of producing energy. Offshore wind is our chance to secure a brighter future, right here at home.
Zainab Mirza