Say ‘no’ to Deepwater Wind
July 18, 2013 | www.independentri.com
The Rhode Island General Assembly has done great harm to the state by overruling the Public Utility Commission rejection of the Deepwater Wind wind farm.
The Block Island wind farm will raise National Grid rates for the entire state. Just Narragansett alone will have rate increases of about $12 million. Ask Sen. James Sheehan and Rep. Donald Lally why the General Assembly wants to see Narragansett electric bills go up for no reason.
Offshore wind farms do not provide green energy. During construction, the ships and equipment will use thousands of gallons of diesel fuel. After construction, maintenance and repair boats will also use thousands of gallons of diesel fuel.
Wind turbines have created a new and dangerous form of pollution. Carbon materials cannot be burned without releasing emissions. Carbon and fiberglass from broken blades are expensive to dispose of and very difficult to recycle.
The construction of the wind farm, vibrations from wind turbines in operation and electromagnetic fields can damage commercial fishing and lobster trapping. European experience indicates that it takes as long as 15 years for fishing to recover. This is harmful to the Narragansett fishing fleet. As with 38 Studios, the General Assembly failed to perform its due diligence before voting on another expensive mistake.
Routing the electric power line under Narragansett Town Beach is reckless and irresponsible. Check the medical literature on potential health problems such as childhood leukemia from being in close proximity to the electromagnetic field from power lines. A distance of less than 10 feet from the power line under one of the most popular beaches for children in Rhode Island may not be safe.
There are no economic or electrical power advantages to the state from the Deepwater Wind wind farm, with the possible exception of Block Island. The only results for the state and for Narragansett will be higher costs for electricity forever, possibly higher taxes and potential harm to Rhode Island commercial fishing. There may also be health hazards for children who use the town beach.
Narragansett will have a possibly dangerous power line directly under the town beach and routed close to other town facilities. This should not happen.
Capers Jones
Narragansett
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/07/18/say-no-to-deepwater-wind/