USA: CRMC Receives Very Few Public Comments on Block Island Wind Farm

The application materials submitted by Deepwater Wind LLC for the proposed Block Island Wind Farm are currently out for public comment. The public comment period is scheduled to end on January 15, 2013. The Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) comment period coincides with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ public comment period.

To date, very few comments have been received by the CRMC. Those that have been submitted have focused on the cost of electricity produced by offshore wind and other matters not under CRMC jurisdiction. On December 18, 2012 meetings with the HAB and FAB were held to discuss comments on the application materials.

Deepwater Wind will be adjusting some of the timing originally proposed for installation based on negotiations with environmental groups and NGOs such as the Conservation Law Foundation. The altered construction schedule is expected to reduce impacts on marine mammals in the area.

The Ocean SAMP Subcommittee also recently discussed the possibility of further extending the public comment period to coincide with the end of the Army Corp’s.

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Press release, January 21, 2013; Image: dwwind