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Public officials, environmental advocates and local residents shared concern for protecting the ecologically sensitive bay, but disagreed on how much wind development they would support.
The plan, the first of its kind in the nation, would regulate siting of ocean uses from renewable energy projects to sand mining in state waters out to 3 miles offshore.
In Buzzards Bay, the plan would allow for community-scale wind projects totaling up to 10 turbines.
At the mouth of the bay, the plan identifies a potential commercial-scale wind site to the southeast of Cuttyhunk Island.
A second commercial wind farm is proposed for an area southeast of Nomans Land. Together, the two sites, which border federal waters, could host up to 166 turbines.
Overall, the plan designates 2 percent of state waters for commercial wind energy facilities.
Former New Bedford Mayor John Bullard said 2 percent is too little to address climate change. Bullard represented SRPEDD on the Ocean Advisory Commission, a 17-member group that advised Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Ian Bowles during development of the ocean management plan.
"We have an emergency situation and we need to change where we get our energy from," said Bullard.
He questioned why the only commercial wind sites proposed in the plan were sited near Buzzards Bay.
"It's located here. We are the backyard in the Not In My Backyard. ... But I want windmills in my frontyard and my backyard. So let's get on with it."
State Rep. John Quinn, D- Dartmouth, recommended the state amend its draft plan to prohibit any wind development within Buzzards Bay.
With the potential for hundreds of wind turbines on the outskirts of Buzzards Bay, Quinn said he did not see the need for 10 community-scale wind turbines within the bay.
"I think Buzzards Bay is a special, sensitive and unique area and I think it should be classified as a prohibited area," he said.
Priscilla Brooks, ocean conservation director at the Boston-based Conservation Law Foundation, advocated for increasing the number of wind turbines allowed for community-scale wind projects.
"A flat limit of 10 is arbitrary and risks pitting communities against each other," she said.
As for commercial wind sites, Brooks warned that the proposed areas have deep water and are "very exposed."
"Offshore wind technology is not yet proven. ... It is more important to foster wind development in other locations that are more suitable for near-term projects," she said.
Meanwhile, Korrin Petersen of the Coalition for Buzzards Bay said the advocacy group supports the state's proposed limit of 10 turbines for community-scale wind projects.
The meeting at New Bedford Public Library was the second of five public hearings sponsored by the state's Coastal Zone Management Office.
About 25 people attended the meeting, with 10 people sharing public comments.
Comments from the hearing will be considered by state environmental officials as they prepare a final draft of the plan, which is expected to be released at the end of the year.
The public comment period runs through 5 p.m. Nov. 23. Written comments on the plan may be sent to:
Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management
RE: Draft Ocean Management Plan, 251 Causeway St., Suite 800, Boston, MA 02114.
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