UPDATED: PUC Approves Wind Farm
Thursday, August 12, 2010
The state Public Utilities Commission today approved a contract between National Grid and Deepwater Wind, the developer of a proposed wind farm off the shores of Block Island.
The PUC previously had turned down the contract, but the General Assembly passed a law requiring that they reconsider it.
Gov. Don Carcieri, a big supporter of the project, praised the decision.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST“I am pleased by the PUC’s approval of the (power purchase agreement) between National Grid and Deepwater, and thank the commissioners for their robust and comprehensive review of the agreement,” Carcieri said. “This approval marks a critical step in our bid to develop the nations’ first off shore wind project. More so, this project will jump start a new industry in Rhode Island.”
The leaders of the state House and Senate also applauded the ruling in a joint statement.
“Today’s approval by the PUC allows Rhode Island to seize upon a major opportunity to bring jobs to the state and develop a new industry as a wind manufacturing and support hub for the entire eastern seaboard,” said Senate M. Teresa Paiva Weed and House Speaker Gordon D. Fox.
“With the expertise that exists through the CRMC’s Special Area Management Plan, an ideally situated deepwater port at Quonset, and our prime location rich in off-shore wind resources, Rhode Island is exceptionally well-positioned to become a national leader in wind energy development,” Fox and Pavia Weed added.
Attorney General Patrick Lynch, on the other hand, condemned the decision.
"I’m very disappointed but not at all surprised by the decision reached today by the PUC. The Governor and legislative leaders have gamed the entire process that has led us to it; namely, that the Commissioners really had no choice, because of the pro-Deepwater constraints built into the bill, but to approve this very bad deal," Lynch said. "This is an inherently unfair and anti-competitive project because it forces all ratepayers and businesses to buy grossly overpriced electricity for the next 20 years to specifically guarantee one company’s revenues and profits. For this reason, and the fact that I firmly believe that the Deepwater bill ran roughshod over the 2004 Separation of Powers amendment, I plan to appeal this decision to the Rhode Island Supreme Court."
