A legal battle is brewing over an offshore wind energy project in Maryland as lawmakers in that US state passed a resolution to protect commercial fishing access to harbor infrastructure in West Ocean City, reports FOX Business. 

An offshore wind farm planned by US Wind, a subsidiary of Italian company Renexia SpA, includes up to 118 turbines about 15 miles from the coast of Ocean City, Maryland, a popular fishing area and tourist destination. The company's plan also includes the construction of a 353-foot-by-30-foot-wide concrete pier and 383 feet of bulkhead at West Ocean City harbor for service vessels.

However, the Worcester County Board of Commissioners is concerned that the seafood industry could lose access to the harbor because of that activity, and two local seafood wholesalers could be impacted.

Commissioners decided to make a move to protect harbor access, approving a resolution on Tuesday (Dec. 17) to purchase two properties in the harbor currently used by Southern Connection Seafood and the Martin Fish Company, the only two seafood wholesalers in the area where fishermen can offload their catches.

"Over the past year or so, we have spoken out at every opportunity to Governor Moore, to state legislators, to the Maryland Public Service Commission, to Sussex County where wind turbine cables would come ashore, and to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, warning that Worcester County’s commercial and sport fishing industries would be destroyed if US Wind is permitted to close down the fish houses. They have turned a deaf ear to us," said Ted Elder, president of the Worcester County Board of Commissioners,  

The county plans to develop long-term leases with the two companies, allowing them to continue serving the needs of the fishing community.

In their resolution, the commissioners say that without access to the Atlantic Ocean from this harbor, the commercial and sport fishing industries "would cease to exist in any meaningful way," reported Fox Business.

Nancy Sopko, vice president of external affairs with US Wind, fired back, saying that the resolution by Worcester County would block much-needed upgrades to the harbor and the economic benefits that would come from building the infrastructure for the wind farm

The company said it is still committed to building energy projects to help meet demand in the region and is working on a Memorandum of Understanding with the state, local fishermen and other shareholders to establish and fund programs to mitigate and reduce any impacts.

"We also plan to replace existing offloading and ice services without disruption," Sopko is quoted by FOX Business.

"We are prepared to explore every legal option at our disposal should the county continue these misguided efforts," Sopko added.