Another Attorney Hired To Battle Offshore Wind In Ocean City

OCEAN CITY, NJ — Ocean City is not giving up the fight against offshore wind any time soon. Officials recently awarded a contract to another attorney to challenge state law that removed home rule.

Bruce I. Afran was hired to "challenge the state law that strips Ocean City and other local municipalities of the power to review offshore wind transmission line proposals within their borders," Mayor Jay Gillian said.

Afran, who has made a name for himself as a constitutional lawyer, is no stranger to offshore wind - he also represents anti-wind groups Protect Our Coast NJ and Defend Brigantine Beach in a lawsuit that claims the tax breaks given to wind developer Orsted are illegal. Read more: Ocean City The First Battleground In National Offshore Wind Fight

Afran "will argue that it's not constitutional for the state to single out shore towns targeted by offshore wind companies," Gillian said.

"That's not the way laws are supposed to work," Gillian said. "The hastily approved statute sets a dangerous precedent for all towns in New Jersey."

Ocean City has long been fighting the Ocean Wind 1 project that is set to place 98 wind turbines off its coast. The legal challenges against it have been ramping up over the past few months, with lawsuits filed on both sides.

Further Reading

Cape May County, More Sue Feds Over Offshore Wind Approval

Offshore Wind Fight Strengthens In Cape May County

Feds Approve Wind Farm Project Off Coast Of Ocean City