Federal, State & Local Officials Discuss Offshore Wind Farms for off Delaware and Maryland
Rehoboth Beach City Commission hosted a special meeting this morning on offshore wind projects off the Delaware and Maryland coast. There were presentations from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, DNREC, US Wind, Orsted, Ocean City officials, Caesar Rodney Institute and University of Delaware. Representatives from other coastal towns were also on hand. There was also question and answer periods where members in the audience could ask about the offshore wind projects proposed off the coast of Delaware.
Karen Baker of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) discussed the federal government’s role and processes in establishing offshore wind farms, while Jennifer Holmes of DNREC discussed the state government’s role.
Mike Dunmyer is the Delaware Development manager for US Wind and discussed the proposed wind farm offshore of Maryland. And Ocean City Manager Terry McGean and Mayor Rick Meehan talked about the nearly 10 years they’ve been trying to work with offshore wind development.
Danni Van Drew is a community relations consultant for Orsted and gave an overview of the Skipjack wind farm offshore of Delaware and Maryland.
David Stevenson is the Director of the Center for Energy & Environment for the Caesar Rodney Institute and gave the Institute’s perspective on the economic and environmental impacts and better alternatives to offshore wind and a critique of university studies.
Jeremy Firestone is a Professor at the University of Delaware School of Marine Science and Policy and discussed science-based studies of resident and visitor attitudes towards offshore wind power. And Willett Kempton is a professor at the UD College of Earth, Ocean and Environment and a technical advisor to the Special Initiative on Offshore Wind and talked about Delaware cost and policy options for offshore wind.
Rehoboth Beach Mayor Stan Mills says this meeting is to provide discussion so that the Rehoboth Beach City Commissioners can come to an informed position on these projects off our beaches. There will be additional chances for public opinion and comment through future public meetings.
CLICK HERE FOR THE LINK TO THE VIDEO OF THE MEETING
