Offshore wind opponents delay start of work in Ocean City

OCEAN CITY — Demonstrators organized an offshore wind protest at the site where work on the project was scheduled to begin Tuesday.

About 60 people assembled on 35th Street in what appeared to be an attempt to block work there related to running cables on shore.

The crowd said they would try to block the work for about an hour.

Mayor Jay Gillian stopped by but did not stay long.

In a text, Gillian described the scene as peaceful.

"All these things matter," said Gillian.

The city had delayed approving permits for the work, and Gillian has expressed reservations about the offshore wind project proposals.

The work is being done as part of Ocean Wind 1, an offshore wind project by Danish energy company Ørsted. The plan is to build 98 wind turbines about 15 miles off the coastline, in a bid to grow the state's clean energy economy.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.