Wind farm comments due soon

Coastal Resources Management Council wants public comments by January 13

By Will Collette

Essential to the success of the proposed 30 megawatt wind energy project proposed by Deepwater Wind for the waters off Block Island is a 15 mile underground transmission line that would run from Block Island to Narragansett.

The project will generate more energy than Block Island needs so the project needs to bring the electricity from the project onshore so it can go into our electrical grid.

The company will need approval from the RI Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) and, accordingly, the CRMC wants to get comments from the public and other interested parties.

Deepwater promised to exercise care when it lays the cable to create minimal disturbance to our coastal ecosystem. The project has been endorsed by most of Rhode Island’s environmental organizations. Wind maps from the US Department of Energy show winds in the project area are strong enough and steady enough to make the project viable.

You can read the entire proposal by clicking here.

If you wish to submit comments, send them to the CRMC at the Stedman Government Center, Suite 3, 4808 Tower Hill Road, Wakefield, RI 02879-1900