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MARCH 2, 2018
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FINNEGAN’S WAKE IN OC Annual event this Saturday to benefit Worcester County Developmental Center – Page 33
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State bill seeks new limits for turbine location Measure would push site to nearly 30 miles offshore
By Greg Ellison Staff Writer (March 2, 2018) Ocean City government’s effort to keep wind turbines from becoming part of the seaside horizon may gain traction statewide as the General Assembly examines legislation next week to push the structures farther offshore. SB1058 and HB1135, which have hearings next Tuesday and Thursday respectively, would alter the distance requirement for turbines from between 10-30 nautical miles to not less than 26 nautical miles off the coast. A nautical mile is 1.15 statute miles. The Maryland Public Service Commission issued conditional approvals last May for US Wind and Skipjack Wind to construct hundreds of turSee BILL Page 4
BRIAN GILLILAND/OCEAN CITY TODAY
NEW SURFACE PREP Workers hurry to complete pre-paving work on Fourth Street and the Boardwalk before rain began falling Monday morning.
US Wind CEO: 26 miles kills it Toto says time for letters over, while face-to-face talks’ time has come
By Brian Gilliland Associate Editor (March 2, 2018) After a series of fiery letters between Ocean City officials and US Wind CEO Riccardo Toto debating the location, height and placement of offshore wind turbines, Toto this week said the time for letters is over and the time for
face-to-face conversation has begun. “We have been in regular communication with US Wind … Although we remain consistent in our position, and support the resolution passed by the council, we are certainly open to additional, constructive dialogue with US Wind representatives,” Mayor Rick Meehan said. Toto said he would be meeting with representatives from the resort, including Meehan and members of the City Council today, Friday, when
US Wind CEO Riccardo Toto
they are in Annapolis for a hearing on the special events zone bill that Ocean City wants passed. The letters, he said, were useful in defining each side’s concerns and showed the perspectives of the people composing them. This, he felt, would lead to a solution. The distance the turbines would be placed from shore is of primary concern to both resort and US Wind, with both sides marshaling forces to defend their points of view. “The reality is we’re building 17miles from shore. That’s the magic number for now,” Toto said. “If the problem is seeing the turbines from the beach, the visibility is close to zero.” Toto referred to Phase I of a three-phase installation. Additional turbines would eventually be placed closer to the resort shoreline. A previous proposal handled by a different company starting in 2010 had the turbines placed even closer, and US Wind moved them back as a concession to the city earlier in this process. The city supported the earlier initiative, and Meehan, Council PresiSee US WIND Page 7
Special event zone bill goes to committees Hearings begin on measure to restrict hotrod hooligans
By Greg Ellison Staff Writer (March 2, 2018) Ocean City leaders testified on Tuesday in Annapolis and were scheduled to do the same thing today (Friday) as the General Assembly considers legislation that would create special event zones to help curtail unruly behavior on the streets during annual automobile and motorcycle gatherings. Sen. Jim Mathias Tuesday’s hearing before the Judicial Proceedings Committee was for SB872, which would authorize the State Highway Administration to designate roadways under its purview as special event zones to allow for reduced speed limits and increased penalties. See SPECIAL Page 6