September 25, 2013
Rhode Island

Deepwater changes plan, wants to run underwater cable to Scarborough State Beach

By Alex Kuffner | Providence Journal | September 24, 2013 | providencejournal.com

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – After bowing to heated opposition to its proposal to bring an underwater electric cable from Block Island to the Narragansett Town Beach, Deepwater Wind has now sets its sights on another beach in Narragansett, this one state-owned.

The Providence-based company that is planning a five-turbine wind farm in waters near Block Island is working to secure an agreement with the state Department of Environmental Management that would allow it to bury the transmission cable under Scarborough State Beach and then connect it to the regional power grid.

At its meeting on Thursday, the State Properties Committee is set to consider whether to approve an easement that would allow the cable to travel under an area at the north end of the beach complex, according to documents filed with the Secretary of State’s office. The cable would be buried in a conduit at least 10 feet under the sand and then stretch under a parking lot.

The documents list the DEM and utility National Grid as parties to the proposed agreement. National Grid has agreed to buy power from the wind farm and has indicated an interest in eventually owning the cable, but a spokesman for the company said it is not involved in the easement agreement with the state. That agreement, he said, would initially be signed by Deepwater, and only later be transferred to National Grid.

A spokeswoman for Deepwater could not be immediately reached for comment.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/09/25/deepwater-changes-plan-wants-to-run-underwater-cable-to-scarborough-state-beach/