Fenwick Island resolution to create 30-mile exclusion zone for offshore wind turbines

RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT A FEDERAL ADOPTION OF AN EXCLUSION ZONE FOR OFFSHORE WIND OF AT LEAST 30 MILES FROM THE ENTIRE COAST OF DELAWARE

Summary: numerous environmental and practical concerns exist when industrial sized offshore wind is located too close to shore. The U.S Bureau of Ocean Energy Management needs to abandon existing offshore wind lease areas closer than 30 miles to shore.

WHEREAS, New York state advised BOEM they wanted the Fairway lease area located 12 miles from the coast off the Hamptons be abandoned, and BOEM complied, and

WHEREAS, BOEM moved a lease area near Kitty Hawk National Park 28 miles from shore to protect the view, and

WHEREAS, BOEM has identified new offshore wind lease areas farther offshore, and is proceeding to lease them, and

WHEREAS, New York state established a 20 mile exclusion zone based on a 2015 BOEM study finding 600’ tall turbines would “dominate” the horizon at 15 miles negatively impacting the tourist industry by destroying ocean views, and over concerns commercial fishing and vessel traffic would be negatively impacted, and

WHEREAS, BOEM’s “Record of Decision” in the Vineyard Wind project states, the commercial fishing industry will likely abandon fishing in lease areas, and the currently defined 17 lease areas occupy an area the size of Connecticut in prime fishing areas threatening our food supply, and

WHEREAS, BOEM ignored a North Carolina State study showing 38% of beach community renters would not return to a beach with visible turbines, and

WHEREAS, No studies exist on the potential impacts of industrial sized turbine fields with acres of cement, rock, cables with electromagnetic fields, and both construction and operational noise that increases with turbine size on seabed creatures that form the basis of the food chain. There is particular concern about the Horseshoe Crab critical to vaccine availability, and on migrating birds such as the Endangered Red Knot that depends on Horseshoe Crab eggs for food. Three lease areas sit atop the Carl N. Shuster, Jr. Horseshoe Crab Sanctuary off the Delaware Bay, and

WHEREAS, Turbine blades sweep an area the size of eight football fields with blade tips whirling at up to 180 mph, posing a hazard to birds in the Mid-Atlantic Flyway that extends over the entire east coast, and

WHEREAS, the industrialization of the coastal horizon is extreme along the Delaware coast as turbines are projected to be placed in tracts that line the entire ocean coastline of the State from Lewes to state line

WHEREAS, Turbines currently planned for most offshore wind projects are 12-14 megawatt, 850’ to 1024’ with 1100’ 20 megawatt turbines beginning to be used in Europe. Thus, the 20-mile exclusion zone should be increased to at least 30 miles from the coast of Delaware.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, We call upon the U.S Congress and the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to update visualization and radar studies for turbines up to 1100’ tall and abandon offshore wind lease areas closer than at least 30 miles from shore and ensure any new lease areas avoid impacts on endangered species, fishing grounds, vessel transit lanes, and consider all other environment risks.