wiredinUSA January 2012

Looking out for lobsters

A 15-mile undersea transmission line is to be built, connecting a 30MW wind farm at Block Island on the US east coast. The line will allow developer Deepwater Wind to connect the five turbine wind farm to the mainland grid at Narragansett, making use of the town’s pier to avoid disturbing the delicate sea bed breeding grounds of local lobsters. Deepwater’s chief administration officer, Jeffrey Grybkowski, said

the project was complex, with a risk of endangering sensitive habitats. “It’s very, very difficult to make that landing because of the geology and the ecology,” he said. In September, the company carried out surveys off the coast of Block Island, including mapping out the sea floor for cabling and turbine siting. Once complete, Deepwater will survey the route for onshore cables.

18

wiredInUSA - January 2012