Cape resident convinced offshore wind developer to push public hearing. What happened?

Offshore wind developer Avangrid Renewables will wait a few more weeks before presenting its plans for landing power cables from its Park City Wind project to the Barnstable Conservation Commission.

Instead of proceeding as planned with a July 11 public hearing, the company is requesting postponement until next month.

The change is a response to concerns residents have been raising about the notice given for the hearing since it was officially announced to leaders of the Centerville Civic Association in an email on July 6.

Avangrid Vice President of Development for Offshore Wind Ken Kimmell on Monday afternoon confirmed the company has filed a request for continuance with the Conservation Commission to Aug. 8 at 6:30 p.m. — details will be posted to the commission's website at town.barnstable.ma.us/boardscommittees/ConservationCommission/

The hearing will be opened July 11 just long enough to read out the brief description of the project on the board's agenda, then to take a vote to continue.

Offshore wind developer Park City Wind LLC has purchased 2 Short Beach Road, just off Craigville Beach Road in Centerville, as part of the company's plan to lay underground cables to a new substation.
"This means that the first substantive discussion of the project will occur on August 8," Kimmell said by email on Monday.

Engagement of Barnstable residents is appreciated, Avangrid representative says

Kimmell said the company is grateful for "the continued and robust engagement of the residents in Barnstable in the permitting process for Park City Wind."

"Our team has complied diligently with all the administrative notification requirements associated with the filing of a Notice of Intent with the Barnstable Conservation Commission," he said. But the company wanted to honor the request being made by some residents that the first public hearing for the project before the Barnstable Conservation Commission be postponed, he said.

What is Avangrid Renewables seeking?

Avangrid Renewables is seeking local permits for its 804-megawatt Park City Wind offshore wind farm, planned south of the Islands. Park City Wind would, if approved, come ashore on the west end of Craigville Beach, then would proceed under the Centerville River to a proposed substation on Shootflying Hill Road, then to an Eversource substation in West Barnstable. It would provide electricity for areas of Connecticut, according to the company.

The Conservation Commission will consider work that will take place within wetlands near the shore.

Why is the delay sought for the hearing?

The decision to seek a continuance of the conservation hearing was precipitated when resident Bob Schulte called the company to task at an open house held at the Centerville Public Library on July 6, and then followed up with a July 7 email to Park City Wind external affairs manager Patrick Johnson.

Schulte said the company had previously promised "plenty of notice" would be given of its hearing with the Conservation Commission, and noted that he and others felt strongly that three business days' notice was not "plenty of notice" in their opinion, especially since it came at the tail end of a holiday week. Schulte and others also raised concern that only 14 people got the initial email about the hearing.

Over the weekend, Schulte and his wife, Anne, appealed to Town Councilor Nikolas Atsalis, who reached out to the company to encourage a date change.