Spring Break
Graduate School of Oceanography aims toward making history with wind farm
Mark Scialla
Issue date: 10/8/08 Section: Campus
10/08/08 - The University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography is working with the state in its historic attempts to harness the power of offshore winds for renewable energy.
According to David Farmer, dean of the Graduate School of Oceanography, the project will give Rhode Islanders access to new and clean methods of energy consumption and will make the latest career and research opportunities available to students. The project will also set new precedents and make Rhode Island a leader in the search for alternative energies.
"It is fantastic," said Associate Dean of the Graduate School of Oceanography Kate Moran. "Everyone is excited because we think that we'll be the first in the country. We need to get off fossil fuel."
The proposed offshore wind energy project could provide for 15 percent of Rhode Island's electricity usage. The proposal is expected to cost more than $1 billion.
Rhode Island Office of Energy selected the GSO to work in partnership with the Rhode Island Coastal Resource Management Council. The GSO and CRMC form the Special Area Management Plan, which is gathering important data about marine ecosystems and wildlife, migratory birds and tourism. The SAMP will decide the exact location of the country's first offshore wind farm in Rhode Island.
The Endeavor, the GSO's research vessel, is now prowling local waters conducting sea floor surveys.
The GSO research team, made up of URI graduate students, professors and scientists, will pass its findings on to the CRMC. As part of SAMP, the CRMC ultimately has the final say over the use of state waters, the approval of the project and where it would be built.
Farmer explained that it is the CRMC's responsibility to find land to use for the project. "All state waters can be considered, but the current area of focus is where Block Island is," Farmer said. SAMP is working to ensure the project would not affect wildlife, tourism and shipping lanes.
Moran serves as the senior adviser to the CRMC leadership. Through research and engineering studies, Moran will determine the location and types of facilities that will be constructed in state waters.
"We do not want to cite areas with strong currents or waves," Moran said. "We will do an assessment of sea turtles and mammals and how they could be affected."
Farmer also worked on the Wind Energy Proposal Evaluation Team, which reviewed the various developers bidding for the wind farm contract. The team collectively decided to choose Deepwater Wind as the contractor. The decision was based on what would be the best economic and environmental interests for the state. Farmer and Moran concurred that the project is going to generate new jobs in the emerging green industry.
"It will be an area of growth," Moran said. "It's one of the first green jobs, it has the potential to be a long-term career."
According to David Farmer, dean of the Graduate School of Oceanography, the project will give Rhode Islanders access to new and clean methods of energy consumption and will make the latest career and research opportunities available to students. The project will also set new precedents and make Rhode Island a leader in the search for alternative energies.
"It is fantastic," said Associate Dean of the Graduate School of Oceanography Kate Moran. "Everyone is excited because we think that we'll be the first in the country. We need to get off fossil fuel."
The proposed offshore wind energy project could provide for 15 percent of Rhode Island's electricity usage. The proposal is expected to cost more than $1 billion.
Rhode Island Office of Energy selected the GSO to work in partnership with the Rhode Island Coastal Resource Management Council. The GSO and CRMC form the Special Area Management Plan, which is gathering important data about marine ecosystems and wildlife, migratory birds and tourism. The SAMP will decide the exact location of the country's first offshore wind farm in Rhode Island.
The Endeavor, the GSO's research vessel, is now prowling local waters conducting sea floor surveys.
The GSO research team, made up of URI graduate students, professors and scientists, will pass its findings on to the CRMC. As part of SAMP, the CRMC ultimately has the final say over the use of state waters, the approval of the project and where it would be built.
Farmer explained that it is the CRMC's responsibility to find land to use for the project. "All state waters can be considered, but the current area of focus is where Block Island is," Farmer said. SAMP is working to ensure the project would not affect wildlife, tourism and shipping lanes.
Moran serves as the senior adviser to the CRMC leadership. Through research and engineering studies, Moran will determine the location and types of facilities that will be constructed in state waters.
"We do not want to cite areas with strong currents or waves," Moran said. "We will do an assessment of sea turtles and mammals and how they could be affected."
Farmer also worked on the Wind Energy Proposal Evaluation Team, which reviewed the various developers bidding for the wind farm contract. The team collectively decided to choose Deepwater Wind as the contractor. The decision was based on what would be the best economic and environmental interests for the state. Farmer and Moran concurred that the project is going to generate new jobs in the emerging green industry.
"It will be an area of growth," Moran said. "It's one of the first green jobs, it has the potential to be a long-term career."
