March 7, 2013
Rhode Island

Rhode Island regulators rule against Deepwater Wind fee waiver

By Alex Kuffner | Providence Journal | March 6, 2013 | providencejournal.com

SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. – A subcommittee of the Coastal Resources Management Council has denied Deepwater Wind’s request to have a nearly $700,000 fee waived on its application to build a wind farm in waters near Block Island.

After a two-and-a-half hour hearing Wednesday morning, the Ocean Special Area Management Plan subcommittee voted 4-to-1 to deny the fee waiver sought by the Providence-based company.

“With a revenue stream in the hundreds of millions of dollars … I just don’t see that this is a good time to waive the fee for Deepwater and ask the taxpayers of Rhode Island to fill that gap,” said subcommittee member Tony Affigne, echoing comments made by other members of the majority.

The full council must still make a final decision on the matter. No date has been set for that vote.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/03/07/rhode-island-regulators-rule-against-deepwater-wind-fee-waiver/