Deepwater Wind Agrees to Bury Transmission Lines

Following concerns from residents and officials, Deepwater Wind developers agreed last week to modify designs and bury its transmission lines that will make landfall in Narragansett.

The change means that no overhead lines will connect the offshore wind turbines to land-based power grids and also relocates the landfall area of the transmission lines from the Narragansett Town Beach to the Narragansett Switchyard, reports the Block Island Times.

Developers announced the changes in a letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Friday, May 31 that was required as a part of the project's permitting process.

Dozens of South Kingstown and Narragansett residents are reportedly either against the project or demanding assurances that the project with employ buried transmission lines. A group of residents opposed to the project collected more than 60 signatures in five hours toward a petition against the project outside Stop & Shop in Salt Pond Plaza, reported the South County Independent.

The petition urged Narragansett Town Council member to receive written assurances from the company that it will bury its transmission lines and keep them away from Sprague Park, Narragansett Elementary School and other town areas of public cogregation.