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Hundreds attend public hearing on turbines
May 24, 2013 by Maria Shanahan in Southern Rhode Island Newspapers
May 24, 2013 by Maria Shanahan in Southern Rhode Island Newspapers
Hundreds turned out for a public hearing before the Charlestown Zoning Board Tuesday, the latest chapter in the quest of Whalerock Renewable Energy LLC to erect two wind turbines in the town.
Several residents in opposition to the turbines met attendees at the door handing out stickers that read, "vote no."
In 2007 voters approved a $3 million bond issue for the turbine, which sits behind the tennis courts at the high school. It's been idle since June 2012 due to a broken gear box. The town has been weighing its options ever since.
The long-running quest of Larry LeBlanc and his son-in-law, Michael Carlino, to build the twin 262-foot turbines received a boost in R.I. Superior Court when Associate Justice Kristin Rodgers denied appeals by the Town Council and abutters of the property to halt the turbine project, which has been before town officials and boards since 2010.
Pros and cons (mostly con) aired during Deepwater hearing
April 29, 2013 by Laura Kelly in Block Island Times
April 29, 2013 by Laura Kelly in Block Island Times
Opponents and supporters of the Deepwater Wind's proposed five-turbine wind farm off Block Island had a chance to air their arguments before the R.I. Department of Environmental Management (DEM) Wednesday during one of two public hearings being sponsored by the state permitting agency. The second public hearing will be held Wednesday, May 8, from 5 to 8 p.m. at New Shoreham Town Hall.
Nearly 100 people came out Wednesday night to speak out on Deepwater Wind's $250-million proposal to install five wind turbines in state waters off Block Island and connect them to the mainland through an underwater transmission line.
Motion to suspend talks with Deepwater tabled until May; Wants to update new council members
April 18, 2013 by Laura Kelly in Block Island Times
April 18, 2013 by Laura Kelly in Block Island Times
“The project proposed by Deepwater Wind is extremely complicated and the short-term and/or long-term impact of that project on the town of Narragansett is unclear,” Mannix said in his motion.
“The reason I put in a motion is to make sure we get a complete vetting of information,” Mannix said last week.
Mannix asks to suspend Deepwater negotiations
March 29, 2013 by Derek Gomes in South Coast Independent
March 29, 2013 by Derek Gomes in South Coast Independent
Councilman Matthew Mannix has asked the Town Council to consider suspending negotiations with Deepwater Wind until July 1.
Mannix submitted the motion to the Town Clerk's office earlier this week...Mannix cited the complexity of the project and its "unclear" impacts on the town.
Several Block Island residents attended the meeting to voice their opposition to the project, including Town Councilors Sean McGarry and Chris Warfel. "The cheapest option is for Block Island to develop its own power," Warfel said. "I ask Narragansett not to allow itself to be manipulated like Block Island has."
In voting 4-to-1 against waiving the fee, members of the Ocean Special Area Management Plan Subcommittee said that the application fee was miniscule when compared to what taxpayers and the company has already invested in the 30-megawatt, five-turbine wind farm.
The 1.5-megawatt turbine was commissioned in March 2009. The turbine had a 20-year life expectancy, but was shutdown June 18, 2012, after an inspection showed significant wear to the gearbox. An independent investigation blamed the damage on a faulty design. The gearbox, however, was no longer covered by warranty.
EBEC was started with about $400,000 of seed money from the state Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and its wind farm project would have made millions through net metering. Net metering allows private energy companies to sell excess energy to National Grid at retail prices.
"Why should we, if we could, make a profit on the backs of every single ratepayer in the whole state of Rhode Island."
Some call it an attractive energy source: renewable and sustainable.
Others say wind energy is expensive and inconsistent, needing government subsidies to survive. James Hummel of the Hummel Report examines the questionable practices of the Rhode Island East Bay Energy Consortium - or EBEC.
Offshore wind energy executives to advise New Bedford
January 18, 2013 in South Coast Business Bulletin
January 18, 2013 in South Coast Business Bulletin
Several key executives of offshore wind energy development companies have agreed to participate on a new advisory committee being formed by the city of New Bedford.
Mayor Jon Mitchell made the announcement about the Offshore Wind Advisory Committee in mid-January, saying the committee will advise him on industry trends relating to the global supply chain for offshore wind.
Comment period on Deepwater Wind project extended to Feb. 4
January 16, 2013 by Shaun Kirby in Rhode Island Central
January 16, 2013 by Shaun Kirby in Rhode Island Central
"According to the DPUC, Rhode Island's ratepayers will be paying more than $400 million dollars in excess energy bills over the next 20 years with Deepwater's proposed plant ...That's more than 20 million dollars a year that Rhode Island ratepayers will be paying over the current market price. This is not in the best interest of Rhode Island, Block Island, or Narragansett, who's slated to be the landfall of the cable from the Deepwater Wind Farm."
Task force readies wind farm recommendations
December 22, 2012 by Margie Bucheit in Block Island Times
December 22, 2012 by Margie Bucheit in Block Island Times
Prior to a December 18 Town Council meeting devoted to the Deepwater Wind wind farm project, members of the Electric Utility Task Group met with New Shoreham Town Council members to address their questions around projected future costs for maintenance and decommissioning of the farm, perceived island benefits once the system is in place, and environmental considerations.
Several factors have played into this delay, explained Deepwater CEO Jeff Grybowski, including opposition to the project, particularly legal challenges by those on-island and upstate. And a lengthy permitting process with state and federal agencies - the company's current step - has required extensive research and reams of public documentation.
Efficiency cutting New England power use, costs
December 13, 2012 by Stephen Singer in Associated Press
December 13, 2012 by Stephen Singer in Associated Press
Nationally, demand for electricity is leveling off as residential power use falls, experts say, reversing a long upward trend. More efficient lighting and electric devices are partly credited for the change. New homes also are being built to use less electricity and government subsidies ...help older homes use less power. Rourke said the weak economy also has contributed to reduced electricity use.
In a lawsuit filed in Washington County Superior Court on Nov. 26, Whalerock Renewable Energy, LLC is seeking a judge's order to void a section of the town's zoning ordinances that allows the Planning Commission to approve or reject special use permit applications for large wind energy systems.
Massachusetts at risk of losing some Cape Wind jobs to Rhode Island
December 5, 2012 by Michael Norton in State House News Service
December 5, 2012 by Michael Norton in State House News Service
The Patrick administration placed the project's cost at $100 million and project proponents touted its potential to serve the offshore wind industry. In an interview Tuesday, Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rick Sullivan acknowledged Massachusetts and Rhode Island are competing for the Cape Wind jobs. Massachusetts was not looking to sweeten its infrastructure effort with loans or grants.
Also filed under [
Massachusetts]
The East Bay Energy Consortium (EBEC) looks to rebound from a year that saw its proposed wind farm stall along with wind energy development across Rhode Island.
Much of the consortium's future depends on Election Day outcomes.