December 9, 2010: Deepwater Wind LLC is planning a windfarm for Rhode Island Sound, which would almost double the size of Nantucket Sound's Cape Wind, and be the largest offshore-wind farm in the United States with 200 turbines. Under the new plan submitted to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, a 1,000 megawatt project replaces the 350-megawatt 100-turbine plan put forth two years ago by the Providence-based office of Deepwater. The 270 square mile area would be leased to Deepwater Wind by the federal government and potentially provide clean energy wind power from New York to Massachusetts, connected by an undersea transmission network called the Deepwater Wind Energy Center.
Each turbine would rise above the water 525 feet and be installed at least 18 miles from mainland Rhode Island. According to William M. Moore, Deepwater's chief executive:
"The multi-state transmission network would create several potential buyers for Deepwater’s power. Rhode Island is a limited market. It has about half a million customers and is dominated by one utility — National Grid. Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York have more utilities and many more customers. Spreading the power around to multiple markets also ensures that no single state must absorb the higher cost of offshore wind power alone."
Block Island is currently slated for five wind turbines in a three-mile area off the island. Technology is changing so fast in the wind turbine industry, the eight smaller turbines, originally proposed for Block Island, will be substituted with the larger 5-megawatt turbines. 6-megawatt turbines are in the development stage.
Deepwater is optimistic about financing the $5 billion dollar project, which dwarfs the $1.3-billion price tag of the original 100-turbine project. They pointed to the recent decision by a group of European commercial banks to lend $1.7 billion for the expansion of a wind farm off Belgium. The wind farm project will increase the job market by 800 with its staging area planned for Quonset Point, North Kingstown, Rhode Island.
Copyright 2010, Sharon Watterson
Comments
Great report!
Fantastic, let us turn to the wind. Great reporting, as always!
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!