New England Wind Wars: Two Companies Make Plans For Wind Farms Off Massachusetts/Rhode Island Coast

Two New England wind energy companies are spinning at the prospect of earning leasing rights to federal waters in Rhode Island Sound. Within days of Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar, announcing that the government will move forward with the leasing of federal Rhode Island Sound waters for commercial wind farm development, two companies said that they are stepping up to the plate: Neptune Wind and Deepwater Wind. Here are the stats…

Neptune Wind LLC

• Based in Winchester, MA
• Plans to build 500-megawatt wind farm
• Could supply power to between 120,000 and 150,000 homes each year

Deepwater Wind LLC

• Based in Providence, RI
• Plans to build 1,000-megawatt wind farm
• Could supply power to between 240,000 and 300,000 homes each year

Both companies plan to construct their wind farms in the coastal waters off of the Massachusetts/Rhode Island border. The location is within a 400-square mile Area of Mutual Interest (AMI), which the state governments of Massachusetts and Rhode Island designated in July of 2010.

In addition to battling it out for control of the high seas, Neptune Wind and Deepwater Wind may have a land battle on their hands: both companies are eyeing Quonset Point as a possible location for port facilities.

So what would a Rhode Island Sound wind farm bring to Southern New England apart from discontent amongst locals who have to deal with a disrupted ocean view? How about some local job creation?

As Secretary Salazar noted, local wind farm development will “drive investment, development, and jobs to Rhode Island and Massachusetts.” Rhode Island Congressman, David Cicilline stated, “…this project has the potential to create hundreds of good-paying jobs in our state that cannot be outsourced and it will undoubtedly help our environment by moving us away from our dependence on foreign oil.”

Related posts:

1. Former Vt. Governor Continues Wind Criticism
2. RI Economic Board to Vote on Grants to Woo Company
3. World Urges Gadhafi to Surrender, Plans Future
4. Boston-based Renewable Energy Co. Making Headway In The Bay State With Its Underwater Turbine
5. RE/MAX: July Too Hot to Shop for New England Homes

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Posted by erik devaney on Aug 22 2011. Filed under Business, Top Stories. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry