On a recent weekday afternoon, fishermen sat around a large table at the New Bedford Port Authority, learning to fill out an online form that could entitle them to financial compensation from a company that some fishermen have treated as their sworn enemy. Vineyard Wind, the offshore wind developer, is constructing a 62-turbine wind farm […]
Vineyard Wind
Posted inEnvironment, Local, The Weekly Catch
Preparing for coastal erosion, Vineyard Wind to compensate fishermen, and more
Offshore Wind company Vineyard Wind is establishing a fund to pay fishermen for financial losses they may suffer as a result of the wind farm being built near Martha’s Vineyard. As South Coast Bureau Reporter Ben Berke tells us, it’s the first program of its kind in the nation. And the General Assembly is considering a bill that would create a comprehensive plan to deal with threats to the Rhode Island coastline. We hear from bill sponsor State Rep. Tina Spears. Meanwhile, Newport Bureau Reporter Cheryl Hatch talks with a group of residents in Portsmouth that are taking storm and flood preparedness into their own hands. Also, we have a studio session with Keith McCurdy of Providence-based gothic folk band Vudu Sister. Plus: a look back on the week in politics; and a few recommendations on what to do this week.
Posted inEnvironment, Local, South Coast Bureau
Developers seek to get offshore wind back on track with latest bids to New England states
Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island received bids for new wind farms on Wednesday from offshore wind developers seeking to get construction back on track after a string of projects were canceled last year because of rising construction costs. The bids seek to lock in higher electricity prices for offshore wind that manage to strike a […]
Posted inBusiness, Environment, South Coast Bureau
How many jobs does an offshore wind farm create?
A new report from Vineyard Wind, the developer building America’s first utility-scale offshore wind farm, offers some of the clearest answers yet to a surprisingly complex question.
Posted inArticle, South Coast Bureau
A decade in the making, parts for America’s first major offshore wind farm arrive in New Bedford
A barge carrying massive turbine components for Vineyard Wind One arrived in New Bedford’s harbor Wednesday afternoon. It was a symbolic step forward for a historic seaport where leaders have spent more than a decade fighting for an early role in America’s emerging offshore wind industry.
Posted inArticle, Business, Environment
Can The U.S. Offshore Wind Industry Survive Without A Federal Tax Credit?
The Trump administration’s decision to delay the Vineyard Wind project will impact the offshore wind developer’s ability to take advantage of a big federal tax credit that expires in December.
Democratic lawmakers say the administration’s decision was a political move to stall the project and could endanger the future growth of the industry. Lawmakers are scrambling to pass legislation to get the tax credit extended. But some industry observers say offshore wind may be able to survive just fine without it.
Posted inArticle, Business, Environment
Vineyard Wind Decision Delayed Until December 2020, Sources Say
Final approval for the Vineyard Wind Project will likely not happen for at least another 18 months, according to information received from multiple sources by The Public’s Radio. This means the country’s first large scale offshore wind farm won’t begin construction in time to take advantage of a lucrative federal tax credit that expires at the end of the year.
Posted inArticle, Business
Environmental Groups, Fishermen Divided On Trump Administration’s Delay Of Offshore Wind Project
Environmental groups are questioning the motives behind the Trump administration’s delay in approving the country’s first large scale offshore wind project.
Posted inArticle, Business
Federal Regulators Have Put The Vineyard Wind Project In Limbo. Now What?
The Department of the Interior is delaying final regulatory approval of the Vineyard Wind project, pending a “cumulative analysis” of the offshore wind industry. The move is welcomed by fishermen, worried about the impact of the industry on their work, but has put the future of renewable energy in the country at risk.
Posted inArticle, Environment
You Asked, We Answered: How Will Vineyard Wind’s Compensation Plan To Fishermen Actually Work?
The development for the country’s first large scale offshore wind farm is currently at a standstill. Federal officials have delayed approval of the Vineyard Wind project because of continuing concerns about the impacts it could have on New England commercial fishermen — from safety issues to lost fishing grounds. This week, one of our listeners wanted to know more about Vineyard Wind’s compensation plans that are setup to address these issues. South Coast Reporter Nadine Sebai has been extensively covering offshore wind in the region and is here to talk with us.