Responsible Offshore Development Alliance (RODA), a fishing interest group, has filed suit in federal court against the U.S. Department of the Interior, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and others for allegedly violating environmental law in authorizing Vineyard Wind 1. The suit claims the authorization is out of compliance with the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, and other federal statutes.
Vineyard Wind 1 is a 62-turbine offshore wind farm slated to be built in the Atlantic, 15 miles south of the Vineyard. The project has already broken ground in Barnstable, where the farm’s export cables will make landfall. The project is considered America’s first industrial-scale wind farm.
“In its haste to implement a massive new program to generate electrical energy by constructing thousands of turbine towers offshore the Eastern Seaboard on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf, and laying hundreds of miles of high-tension electrical cables undersea, the United States has shortcut the statutory and regulatory requirements that were enacted to protect our nation’s environmental and natural resources, its industries, and its people,” RODA Executive Director Annnie Hawkins said through a release. “The fishing industry supports strong action on climate change, but not at the expense of the ocean, its inhabitants, and sustainable domestic seafood.”
Vineyard Wind spokesman Andrew Doba declined comment on the suit.
I recall off shore oil rigs (which of course are not so good for the world) in the Gulf of Mexico.
when we were able to go fishing off the Louisiana coast it was just amazing how many fish were hanging out at the oil rigs. It was just like a magnet.
Is that possible once the windmills get set up and the sea settles back down?
Excellent for individual rod and reel but not for the fishing boats that feed many and make a major contribution to a variety of local economies for years to come and years past, unlike wind farms that only will contribute when the wind blows and to those who construct them. Not many small boats will be able to take advantage of them. Food i think will be needed more than power.
It’s a pretty big ocean out there, Don. If in fact, the towers attract attract sea life, it will be similar to a nursery. You know how it works.
Where would you propose putting windmills on land in this densely populated part of the country ?
I think you need some power to grow, harvest, process, transport and cook food.
The Gulf Coast commercial fish landings are over a billion dollars a year.
Less than 1% is rod and reel.
All forms of energy production only contribute when the “wind blows” (fuel is available).
When the Wind does not blow there are batteries (their cost is dropping by half every three years).
Wind produces power cheaper than coal.
When the wind blows shut down the coal.
I look forward to the RODA actions being successful and stopping this disaster to the fishing industry economy and the ocean environment. Wind power belongs on land.
How do wind harm the environment?
It makes fish harder to catch?
Wind power belongs every where.
Fisherman do not own the ocean.
What is the dollar value of the landed fish from the Wind Farm area?
The dollar value of the power produced?
To answer your questions in order. Wind does not harm the environment, it’s part of it. Yes, for draggers, wind is ok but they like fishing in no wind better. Yes, start on land. Wind power doesn’t either. $2.00 to $12.00 a pound, more weight the better and it’s self- renewable. $0.00 when the wind isn’t blowing at a certain speed and above.
GOOD.
Does it make you feel good every time you see a tanker truck on the ferry bringing another load of heavy fuel for the on Island generators?
Have you had the opportunity to have a picnic downwind of them on a warm summer evening.
The aroma is to die for!
It is that GOOD???
“The project is considered America’s first OFF SHORE industrial-scale wind farm.”