OC Today WWW.OCEANCITYTODAY.COM
AUGUST 17, 2018
SERVING NORTHERN WORCESTER COUNTY
SPORTS
RECORD PAYOUT White Marlin Open, now in 45th year, awards more than $5.45 million to winners this year – Page 74
FREE
Fire co., union seek council’s help with chief Scheduling issues appear to be source of complaints
GREG ELLISON/OCEAN CITY TODAY
AN OCEAN FOR EVERYONE Fishing, riding personal watercraft and boating — as was evident over the weekend in Ocean City – the thing about the Atlantic Ocean is that one size fits all.
OC signs on with solar and saves Deal with Constellation will supply about 25 percent of government’s power usage
By Greg Ellison Staff Writer (Aug. 17, 2018) Ocean City government will cut costs by an estimated $125,000 per year by embracing the “green energy” of the Gateway Solar Farm project, which breaks ground on Thursday. Constellation, an Exelon company, is constructing the 10-megawatt solar project, consisting of more than 30,000 photovoltaic panels, on 130-acres near the Routes 50 and 90 split. Construction is expected to be completed later
this year. Constellation will hold an official groundbreaking ceremony at the Gateway Solar Farm, 8628 Old Ocean City Road on Aug. 23 beginning at 11 a.m. Scheduled speakers include Mayor Rick Meehan, Sen. Jim Mathias (D-38) and Brendon Quinlivan with Constellation. Meehan said the city expects the solar array to provide close to six million kilowatt-hours of electricity during the first year of operation and provide power for city buildings and the water plant. City Engineer Terry McGean said the city is contracting for 3.5 of the 10megawatts the array will produce, with the remainder being procured by Eastman Chemical Company.
“It will be about 25 percent of Ocean City government’s usage is going to be supplied by that plant,” he said. “The rate we’re paying represents for us about $125,000 per year savings.” Quinlivan, executive director of distributed energy origination for Constellation, said the solar project would allow Ocean City to manage its energy spending for years to come. “The financial benefit, at least to the tax base, is that Ocean City is contracted for a long-term power uptake at very competitive rates, he said. “The Gateway [Solar Farm] gives them the ability to do it from a specific renewable source.” Besides the fiscal advantages, enviSee OC GOVT. Page 58
By Greg Ellison Staff Writer (Aug. 17, 2018) Scheduling requirements and what are said to be reductions in service have led both the Ocean City Ryan Whittington Volunteer Fire Company and the local IAFF career firefighters union to ask the City Council to address their concerns with Fire Chief Chris Larmore. Jay Jester, volunteer fire company president, said a leadership meeting was held last Wednesday, followed by an emergency membership meeting last Friday. “The board of directors has some concerns that we’d like to work out with the fire chief,” he said. “Right at See UNION Page 59
Another crash with Jet Skis
By Paige Mallory Passman Staff Writer (Aug. 17, 2018) Two weeks after a Maryland physician was killed in a personal watercraft collision in the Assawoman Bay behind Fenwick Island, the Maryland Natural Resources Police reported that an accident involving two such vehicles this week left one operator with a broken leg. Nery Francisco Ortega 29, from Allentown Pennsylvania was taken to Peninsula Regional Medical Center for treatment last Saturday after another watercraft See ANOTHER Page 3