Article
Delahunt proposes research zones for offshore energy
the Register|Craig Salters|May 18, 2006
Someday the waters off Cape Cod could be a giant ocean laboratory with zones earmarked for renewable energy research. Certain sections of state and federal waters could boast state-of-the art wind turbines and the latest in wave energy technology. The research stations could be built by private, royalty-paying companies with the blessings of local governments.
Someday the waters off Cape Cod could be a giant ocean laboratory with zones earmarked for renewable energy research. Certain sections of state and federal waters could boast state-of-the art wind turbines and the latest in wave energy technology. The research stations could be built by private, royalty-paying companies with the blessings of local governments.
That's the vision of U.S. Rep. Bill Delahunt, who's been busy touting his proposal both at the state and national level.
Delahunt, D-Quincy, recently unveiled his plan to create an "ocean energy research and development zone" in state waters and has written state legislators outlining the plan.
Delahunt, who proposed similar test sites in federal waters during a recent meeting with U.S. Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman, said a state test site would allow private companies access in developing ocean resources. It also would give communities greater control over what happens off their coasts.
"Our coastal waters are owned by the American people and they certainly deserve the highest degree of protection," said Delahunt. "However, I do believe …
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Delahunt, D-Quincy, recently unveiled his plan to create an "ocean energy research and development zone" in state waters and has written state legislators outlining the plan.
Delahunt, who proposed similar test sites in federal waters during a recent meeting with U.S. Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman, said a state test site would allow private companies access in developing ocean resources. It also would give communities greater control over what happens off their coasts.
"Our coastal waters are owned by the American people and they certainly deserve the highest degree of protection," said Delahunt. "However, I do believe …
That's the vision of U.S. Rep. Bill Delahunt, who's been busy touting his proposal both at the state and national level.
Delahunt, D-Quincy, recently unveiled his plan to create an "ocean energy research and development zone" in state waters and has written state legislators outlining the plan.
Delahunt, who proposed similar test sites in federal waters during a recent meeting with U.S. Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman, said a state test site would allow private companies access in developing ocean resources. It also would give communities greater control over what happens off their coasts.
"Our coastal waters are owned by the American people and they certainly deserve the highest degree of protection," said Delahunt. "However, I do believe it is possible to work with private companies in developing ocean energy resources if we involve local communities, fishermen, mariners and others in the decision-making process."
But Delahunt's plan elicited skepticism from Clean Power Now, a non-profit advocacy group that supports renewable energy in general and a controversial plan to build a wind farm in Nantucket Sound in particular. To Clean Power Now, the test site plan represents a stalking horse by which Delahunt, an ardent foe of the Nantucket Sound wind farm, can appear to support renewable energy while fighting that project.
"It's nothing more than political cover on his part," said Jack Coleman, Clean Power Now's media consultant. "It's a chance for the congressman to say, 'Look, I'm not against offshore energy, I just don't want it in an ideal location.'"
To Mark Forest, Delahunt's chief of staff, the proposal represents nothing of the sort. In fact, said Forest, the plan offers a way to create local guidelines for offshore renewable energy - be it wind, wave or solar power - without focusing on Cape Wind Associates' plan to build 130 wind turbines on Horseshoe Shoal.
"The congressman is on record that the Cape Wind controversy will continue for years," said Forest. "In the meantime, we need to move forward. There are some concrete steps that we ought to be taking now."
According to Forest, Delahunt's local proposal takes into consideration a long-term ocean management plan for state waters currently before the Massachusetts Legislature. On the national level, the Interior Department's Minerals Management Service is in the process of developing a policy for renewable energy projects sited in federal waters. That process could take years.
Towns would be involved
Delahunt's state plan would allow coastal cities and towns to offer themselves as potential test sites. The communities would spell out what projects they would or wouldn't allow and companies would compete for the opportunity to build those projects. Such projects would provide jobs and compensation for the host communities.
In his letter to legislators, Delahunt said local control is a key component of the plan.
"Since our waters are owned by the people of the Commonwealth, we ought to involve our citizens and coastal communities in the site designation process," Delahunt wrote. "We have learned that coastal energy projects, especially those that involve substantial public subsidies and incentives, will only succeed if they are based on community involvement and support."
Delahunt added that local universities also could participate in the test site process and that his proposal is similar to one recently put forward by New Jersey Gov. John Corzine for that state.
According to Forest, the demonstration site would also dovetail with an initiative recently undertaken by the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative. The quasi-public entity is working with the Department of Energy and General Electric to help develop deepwater turbines. That initiative, said Forest, represents a roughly $35 million undertaking.
Greg Watson, vice president for sustainable development and renewable energy at MTC, did not return calls requesting comment on the project. Forest, however, said creating a test site to develop deepwater technology makes sense.
"Ninety percent of offshore wind is in deep water and we should explore that," he said.
Both Delahunt and Forest said that several companies have expressed "strong interest" in developing such demonstration sites off the Massachusetts coast.
Delahunt, D-Quincy, recently unveiled his plan to create an "ocean energy research and development zone" in state waters and has written state legislators outlining the plan.
Delahunt, who proposed similar test sites in federal waters during a recent meeting with U.S. Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman, said a state test site would allow private companies access in developing ocean resources. It also would give communities greater control over what happens off their coasts.
"Our coastal waters are owned by the American people and they certainly deserve the highest degree of protection," said Delahunt. "However, I do believe it is possible to work with private companies in developing ocean energy resources if we involve local communities, fishermen, mariners and others in the decision-making process."
But Delahunt's plan elicited skepticism from Clean Power Now, a non-profit advocacy group that supports renewable energy in general and a controversial plan to build a wind farm in Nantucket Sound in particular. To Clean Power Now, the test site plan represents a stalking horse by which Delahunt, an ardent foe of the Nantucket Sound wind farm, can appear to support renewable energy while fighting that project.
"It's nothing more than political cover on his part," said Jack Coleman, Clean Power Now's media consultant. "It's a chance for the congressman to say, 'Look, I'm not against offshore energy, I just don't want it in an ideal location.'"
To Mark Forest, Delahunt's chief of staff, the proposal represents nothing of the sort. In fact, said Forest, the plan offers a way to create local guidelines for offshore renewable energy - be it wind, wave or solar power - without focusing on Cape Wind Associates' plan to build 130 wind turbines on Horseshoe Shoal.
"The congressman is on record that the Cape Wind controversy will continue for years," said Forest. "In the meantime, we need to move forward. There are some concrete steps that we ought to be taking now."
According to Forest, Delahunt's local proposal takes into consideration a long-term ocean management plan for state waters currently before the Massachusetts Legislature. On the national level, the Interior Department's Minerals Management Service is in the process of developing a policy for renewable energy projects sited in federal waters. That process could take years.
Towns would be involved
Delahunt's state plan would allow coastal cities and towns to offer themselves as potential test sites. The communities would spell out what projects they would or wouldn't allow and companies would compete for the opportunity to build those projects. Such projects would provide jobs and compensation for the host communities.
In his letter to legislators, Delahunt said local control is a key component of the plan.
"Since our waters are owned by the people of the Commonwealth, we ought to involve our citizens and coastal communities in the site designation process," Delahunt wrote. "We have learned that coastal energy projects, especially those that involve substantial public subsidies and incentives, will only succeed if they are based on community involvement and support."
Delahunt added that local universities also could participate in the test site process and that his proposal is similar to one recently put forward by New Jersey Gov. John Corzine for that state.
According to Forest, the demonstration site would also dovetail with an initiative recently undertaken by the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative. The quasi-public entity is working with the Department of Energy and General Electric to help develop deepwater turbines. That initiative, said Forest, represents a roughly $35 million undertaking.
Greg Watson, vice president for sustainable development and renewable energy at MTC, did not return calls requesting comment on the project. Forest, however, said creating a test site to develop deepwater technology makes sense.
"Ninety percent of offshore wind is in deep water and we should explore that," he said.
Both Delahunt and Forest said that several companies have expressed "strong interest" in developing such demonstration sites off the Massachusetts coast.
But Clean Power Now's Coleman took Delahunt's proposal and promptly turned it on its head.
"We think it's a splendid idea," said Coleman, "and, based upon everything we've learned in a five-year, rigorous review process for Cape Wind, we think that Nantucket Sound looks like an ideal location for such a proposal."
As The Register went to press, Congress had yet to vote on a Coast Guard authorization bill which includes an amendment granting a Massachusetts governor veto power over the Cape Wind proposal.
Coleman said Delahunt's plan reminds him of a possibly apocryphal story involving the late Boston Mayor James Michael Curley. The mayor, so the story goes, listened to a speaker talk endlessly about the need for unity. Finally, it was Curley's chance to speak.
"OK," Curley said, "everyone here who's against unity raise their hands."
"We think it's a splendid idea," said Coleman, "and, based upon everything we've learned in a five-year, rigorous review process for Cape Wind, we think that Nantucket Sound looks like an ideal location for such a proposal."
As The Register went to press, Congress had yet to vote on a Coast Guard authorization bill which includes an amendment granting a Massachusetts governor veto power over the Cape Wind proposal.
Coleman said Delahunt's plan reminds him of a possibly apocryphal story involving the late Boston Mayor James Michael Curley. The mayor, so the story goes, listened to a speaker talk endlessly about the need for unity. Finally, it was Curley's chance to speak.
"OK," Curley said, "everyone here who's against unity raise their hands."