Carcieri set to sign wind farm legislation

DEEPWATER CHIEF Development Officer Paul Rich, at podium, is flanked by Carcieri, Providence Mayor David Cicilline, Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed and former Deepwater executive Chris Wissemann last year. /
DEEPWATER CHIEF Development Officer Paul Rich, at podium, is flanked by Carcieri, Providence Mayor David Cicilline, Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed and former Deepwater executive Chris Wissemann last year. /

(Updated, June 11)

PROVIDENCE – Gov. Donald L. Carcieri said he plans to sign legislation passed by the General Assembly on Thursday that could speed the development of a proposed offshore wind farm.

The House and Senate passed each others’ versions of the legislation on Thursday, taking the final step necessary to send the bill to Carcieri’s desk.

The bill directs the R.I. Public Utilities Commission to revisit the contract between wind farm developer Deepwater Wind and National Grid that it rejected in April. The commission would be required to render a decision within 45 days. Deepwater will also be required to pay for a consultant to study any economic benefits of a wind farm.

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“I thank the leadership of the General Assembly for recognizing the opportunity that lies before us with the passage of this legislation,” Carcieri said in a statement. “It will accelerate our efforts to be the first state in the nation to take our energy needs into our own hands, through the development of clean, sustainable renewable offshore wind energy.”

Hoboken, N.J.-based Deepwater wants to construct an eight-turbine wind farm off the coast of Block Island, with a much larger utility-scale project to follow later in the decade.

Carcieri said the legislation would also put Rhode Island on a path to establish a new industry around assembling and servicing offshore wind farms. Deepwater Wind has already agreed to use Quonset Business Park as a staging area for the Block Island project and a second, larger farm planned for 15 miles off the mainland.

In fact, the bill also tells the PUC that it must take the economic impact of the potential project at Quonset into account when it renders its decision, and further requires Deepwater to pay for an economic impact study of that venture.

“This project is perhaps a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet our state’s renewable energy goals, take us one step closer to energy independence, and achieve lasting economic progress that will best serve our citizens for many years to come,” Carcieri said.

The governor’s statement came the same day the developer behind the Massachusetts Cape Wind project hinted it may establish its staging area in New Bedford instead of Quonset, although a spokesman said no location had been ruled out.

While Carcieri praised the legislation, some lawmakers, officials and environmental groups remained skeptical. R.I. Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch earlier in the week said the legislation forced the PUC to “rubber stamp” the Deepwater project and the “outcome that will be disastrous for Rhode Island ratepayers and businesses” who would pay higher electric rates.

In April the PUC rejected a contract between Deepwater and National Grid, saying the price was too high and would cost electric customers $390 million more in above-market prices during the next 20 years.

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