Category: Offshore Wind Energy

Block Island Wind Farm sets precedent for bringing fishermen to the table

POINT JUDITH, RI – Offshore wind farm proposals are advancing in Maine, New Jersey, Virginia, and elsewhere, but the 30-megawatt, five-turbine Block Island Wind Farm, which is being developed by Deepwater Wind Holdings LLC for construction entirely in Rhode Island state waters, is on track to become the nation’s first offshore wind farm.  This project …

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Guest Column – Coping with wind farms through ‘best practices,’ mitigation, planning – John Williamson

In the global picture, offshore wind power is an increasing part of the energy mix in Europe, China, and Japan.  The world leader in offshore wind production, the United Kingdom (UK), which includes England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, has ambitious plans for quadrupling its present capacity by 2020.  The race is on. Although the …

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Guest Column – Offshore wind: A perspective from BOEM

As recently reported by Commercial Fisheries News, several fisheries representatives were invited to visit the Thanet offshore wind facility in England to speak with regulators and fishermen about issues regarding offshore wind development (see CFN May 2013).  The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) applauds such opportunities for engagement, as they provide valuable insight to …

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Guest Column – Cable projects: Bringing wind energy to shore

One often-overlooked aspect of offshore wind energy development is how the energy will be brought onshore.  Transmission cables carrying the energy created by offshore wind turbines must cross the ocean, make landfall – often in working waterfront areas – and connect to land-based power stations. As much as offshore wind development may affect your operations …

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Guest Column – Wind farm planning: How to be heard

Many fishermen are asking what they can do to preserve fishing opportunities in the wake of ocean wind energy development.  The answer is threefold:  be aware of what is being proposed in your area; know what governmental body is in charge; and engage early and often in the regulatory processes. Multiple state and federal entities …

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New Bedford breaks ground for terminal to support offshore wind construction

NEW BEDFORD, MA – State and congressional dignitaries, led by Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, participated in a ceremonial groundbreaking on May 6 for the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal, the first facility in the nation designed to support the construction, assembly, and deployment of offshore wind projects. “Today, we’re celebrating the birth of the offshore …

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Guest Column – Wind farms: Ecosystem effects differ depending on species, seafloor features

As the siting of ocean wind energy projects continues along the East Coast, many fishermen are left wondering how wind energy development will affect fishing resources. What is involved in testing an area for a wind farm and installing the turbine array?  How will the underwater drilling, jet plowing, cable laying, and turbine installation affect …

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EDITORIAL – Wind farms coming: It’s time to tune in

With the crises enveloping the groundfish, scallop, lobster, and northern shrimp fisheries, everyone in the Northeast commercial fishing industry is exhausted.  It’s understandably difficult for people to even think about redirecting time and energy to wrap their minds around one more threat to the future. But we must. After years of talk, the US is …

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First-ever offshore wind energy lease sale scheduled for July 31

WASHINGTON, DC – The federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) will conduct the first-ever Outer Continental Shelf competitive lease sale for renewable energy developers on July 31. The agency will offer to the highest bidders a total of 164,750 acres of ocean bottom within the Rhode Island/Massachusetts wind energy area (WEA) located 9.2 nautical …

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Wind farm advice: Accept, engage, negotiate

LONDON, ENGLAND – Over the last few years, European fishermen have been forced to grapple with the sudden reality of wind farm construction on their fishing grounds.  Their experiences offer important lessons for fishermen here in the Northeast. In mid-March, a team of people involved in fisheries in this region traveled to England to learn …

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