‘Ocean City is Not For Sale’: Mayor rejects payment from offshore wind company

Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan is preemptively rejecting millions of dollars from an offshore wind company.

In an online statement, Meehan said the CEO of US Wind emailed him in December 2023 offering a benefits package. US Wind is behind MarWin, a projected that is expected to have up to 22 wind turbines more than 20 miles off the coast of Ocean City, according to the company.

US Wind offered Ocean City payments up to $2 million, Meehan said in a statement, on the condition that government officials not make negative comments about the proposed offshore wind project. “Ocean City Is Not For Sale” was the title placed on the news release.

“My response was, ‘Respectfully the future of the Town of Ocean City cannot be bought and we intend to continue to do what is necessary to protect the interests of our residents, property owners and future generations,’” Meehan said in a statement.

Meehan’s office did not respond to questions sent by a reporter.

A spokeswoman for US Wind, Nancy Sopko, said the company has tried to work with Ocean City officials for years.