In spite of the fears voiced by some fishermen, its interesting that major offshore cables have been in existence in the Long Island sound and the New York Harbor for over 20 years. Initial concerns about dangers to the fishing and shell fishing industries in the relevant areas have not materialized. Its strange that no one talks about this… Check my earlier post on this story.
“In 2016, when an oil tanker off the British mainland came upon a patch of stormy weather near the Channel Islands, it dropped anchor to wait things out. Moments later, internet speeds on the UK island of Jersey plummeted.
It turns out, as the anchor hit bottom, it snagged a few network
cables on the seafloor and severed them, leaving internet users across
the island temporarily out of access.
Internet cables aren’t the only form of underwater wiring vulnerable to snags on the seafloor. High voltage cables supplying power from the mainland to offshore wind farms are also easy targets if they’re not adequately protected. These black, rubber-coated cables are not the most glamorous components of offshore wind—but they’re critical veins of power that wind operators, developers, and coastal communities rely on to keep this brand new source of clean energy in the U.S. going.”
Now there is new way of checking existing cables for damage as reported by Evan Lubovsky and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. It makes use of autonomous underwater vehicles!
Researchers test ocean robots to make subsea cable surveys faster and cheaper
Submitted by Alice Tepper Marlin. (letter to the editor of the EH Star, July 2019)
The wind farm proposed to be sited out of sight, 35 miles off our shores, can make a significant contribution to slowing the climate change that so threatens our beautiful seaside community and all life on our precious, unique planet. It is crucial to our town commitment to be powered 100% by renewables by 2030.
To my consternation, opposition is being skillfully fomented
by a few individuals who, for various self-interested reasons, loudly promote
misinformation and even disinformation about the project and the company behind
it, sowing unwarranted fear and distrust.
The brouhaha is over the onshore route of the transmission
line carrying the wind-generated electricity from the turbines to the East
Hampton substation. The entire line will be under ground. I have seen the
equivalent on Block Island, and it is hardly noticeable. All you can see are
occasional manhole covers.
Yes, there would be a few months of wintertime construction
for installation, but the route from Wainscott is only four miles long and half
of it is in the railroad corridor. So this disruption is in no way a big deal.
Just a few months ago, ten miles of water main were installed in Wainscott, and
not a peep was heard to challenge it.
What about Orsted? Orsted is a Danish renewable energy
company and a global leader in offshore wind. Its new partner, Eversource, is a
premier transmission builder with 100 years of experience providing energy in
the Northeast. Orsted supplies over 25% of the world’s wind energy capacity. It
has experience successfully building thousands of offshore turbines in Europe.
Fishermen in England, The Netherlands, and France report positively, they say
that the fish love these artificial reefs. If these were oil rigs, there would
be not only climate damage but also occasional spills killing thousands of
marine animals. What harm can we even imagine from a wind spill? In 2018,
Orsted won aN award for the most socially responsible companies in the world.
Independent of East Hampton’s decisions, there will be two
dozen government reviews before construction can begin. These will provide
detailed environmental and other reviews at a technical level above and beyond
what one might reasonably expect at the local level. Numerous top environmental
groups are participating in the process. In addition, East Hampton has the
right to submit all our questions and concerns in these processes. The town
Board has already filed a submission.
The South Fork Wind Farm will be able to generate enough
power for 70,000 South fork homes.
Our region has the fastest growth rate for electricity use
on Long Island. Forecasts indicate that that all the electricity generated by
the South Fork wind farm will be required in our local region But even if that
proves not to be the case, what portion serves homes and businesses here and
what portion serves homes elsewhere matters not a bit to its lessening of
global warming and of the acidification of our waters. Acidification from
burning fossil fuels has already been a factor in driving the lobsters north
and harms all life in the ocean.
We as citizens have a duty not only to our local community
but also to the nation.
Let’s think globally and act locally: let our Trustees and
Board members know that you want to be counted and will welcome the wind farm.
The youth shall inherit the earth…and they plan to take care of it. The growing youth activist movement has continued to expand across the world, and politicians are taking notice.
Monday, August 5 7PM $25-$55 ($23-$50 Members) per evening for panel only | Special Tickets $500 per evening includes premium seating and post-performance reception with panelists
Purchase tickets at the Box Office; 631-324-4050; or Theatermania.com at 1-866-811-4111 158 Main Street East Hampton, NY 11937 United States Buy Tickets
Produced by Tracy Marshall and Sheraton Kalouria
Panelists: Dr. Michael Mann, Director of the Earth System Science Center, Penn State University Alexandria Villasenor, a Co-founder of US Youth Climate Strike and founder of Earth Uprising Gordian Raacke, Executive Director of Renewable Energy Long Island
Our panel will address the latest science and focus on the young people around the globe that are taking action and impacting change.
WIN WITH WIND 