Block Island Wind Farm: Narragansett Council's Unenviable Position

Following the June 26th special session to consider Deepwater Wind’s proposal to purchase easements for the Block Island Wind Farm’s transmission cable, I do not envy the position of the members of the Narragansett Town Council.

On the one hand, there are at least 2.25 million dollars on the table and the chance to make Rhode Island a national leader in an industry that will be around for as long as we need electricity. In Europe where the offshore wind business has been a proven success since the 1990s, entire cities have been remade into industrial hubs, employing 35,000 people. With Rhode Island’s proud manufacturing tradition, this can be done here. Deepwater Wind has already paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to reserve space at Quonset Point for its assembly plant. It is a big responsibility to be in a place to decide whether and how this industry will develop in the state.

More importantly, this project will speed up the sluggish transition away from fossil fuels as the urgency to address climate change grows. In the next 35 years, carbon emissions must be reduced by 80% to meet the 3.6F degree warming target beyond which cataclysm waits. In order for that goal to be met, the East Coast needs to power itself with clean energy, and offshore wind represents the best local, reliable and carbon free energy source. How will future generations measure this council if it fails to seize this opportunity to make a difference in the defining struggle of the time?

On the other hand, there is an angry and determined grassroots opposition to the project that has turned public opinion against it. Deepwater Wind did not help matters when it presumed it would have local support for its plan without first adequately explaining it to the public. In the absence of good information, the fear-driven misinformation of the project’s opponents has gained credence. Thus, the plan that would for a few weeks in the off season disrupt the beach and entail some road work has been embellished into a full frontal assault on the Town Beach. Even though the work will be complete with only a utility shed to remember it by next year’s election, woe to the politician who would ignore such an impassioned public.

On this hand also, the cost of power from the Block Island Wind Farm will be higher than the cost of existing fossil fuel power plants. After all traditional power plants don’t have to pay the true cost for their carbon pollution.  Plus, this project can’t as a demonstration-scale project take advantage of economies of scale. While the impact on ratepayers is low, since it represents only about 1.5 percent of the power supply that the Ocean State needs, it is galling that the rate was worked out behind the scenes by the Carcieri administration rather than through the usual route of the Public Utilities Commission.

How do these competing concerns balance out in the minds of the council members?

If it were me, I would vote to approve the sale of the easements. I would try to clear my emotions. As infuriating as the presumptiveness of Deepwater Wind was and as scary as outraged citizens are, Rhode Island needs an industry and we are the logical spot to base the offshore wind industry. We must make use of our natural advantages before some other state steals the opportunity away from us. Also, with more coastline per square mile than any other state we stand to lose immeasurable value to sea level rise if global warming is not slowed. Last but not least, two and a quarter million dollars can mend many things that need fixing in Narragansett, and the Council is in a position to negotiate for more.