URI_Research_Magazine_2009-2010_Melissa-McCarthy

Enhancing Economic Development in Rhode Island

A Vision for Being the First State to Harvest Green Energy at Sea

The tiniest state in the nation may be the first to build an offshore wind farm. University of Rhode Island Professor of Oceanography John Merrill is collaborating with Deepwater Wind to provide and operate offshore wind turbines. As an early leader in offshore wind production, URI stands to help establish a new, high-wage industry in Rhode Island with long-term growth potential. In June 2009, the Quonset Development Corporation approved a development agreement to lease approximately 117 acres to Deepwater Wind for its regional manufacturing facility and development headquarters. When fully operational, the headquarters will support 800 jobs, with combined annual wages of $60 million. “The development agreement marks a major milestone in the state’s march toward the development of offshore wind projects and positions Rhode Island as the epicenter for renewable energy on the East Coast,” said Governor Donald L. Carcieri. “We are moving in the right direction when it comes to making targeted investments in renewable energy in Rhode Island. Not only is this about bringing clean, green power that is not subject to variations and increases in fuel prices to our state, but this is also about bolstering economic development in Rhode Island and furthering our efforts to enable Quonset to realize its full potential.” Currently there are no offshore wind projects operating off the United States coastline. Many states have looked to solar and wind power to meet clean energy goals, but Rhode Island expects offshore wind power to comprise the bulk of its green energy. The University of Rhode Island is providing the essential scientific basis for the Rhode Island Ocean Special Area Management Plan led by the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council. It is a project initiated specifically to develop a process for regulation and approval of offshore sites. It will also include community education about the economic and environmental benefits of offshore wind energy, plus the measures being taken to protect sea life, birds, and the integrity of the ocean floor, to name a few.

Rhode Island has launched a 20-year power purchase agreement with Deepwater Wind to build and operate offshore wind turbines and sell their electricity output to National Grid. Merrill is collaborating with Deepwater Wind on the ground-breaking project. The first phase of Deepwater Wind’s project, called the Block Island Wind Farm, proposes to build eight wind turbines producing 28 megawatts of electricity three miles off the coast of Block Island in state waters. The project includes plans to build a transmission line to Block Island, which currently relies mostly on diesel fuel. Any excess electricity generated by the project that the island does not use will be fed to the state’s main grid. This project demonstrates, on a larger scale, the advantages of wind power and other renewable energy resources. With the contributions of Merrill and other URI colleagues, Rhode Island is poised to become a national leader in renewable wind energy. This research also aims to boost Rhode Island’s status as a green work state. While the wind turbine decreases carbon utilization, it also promotes “green-collar” jobs. The wind turbine is a premier example of how, on a state level, renewable resources can reduce our carbon footprint, create jobs and generate revenue. Although turbines on land are the fastest growing source of wind energy, Merrill and his colleagues have concluded that, especially in the New England region, more energy can be generated from turbines located in the ocean. “In this project we’re focusing on a specific area and on winds within a few hundred feet of the surface.” Merrill’s research shows that the further offshore one goes, the more wind one can harness to generate energy. The Deepwater Wind project represents more than 15 percent of the state’s electricity demand. By establishing itself as an early leader in offshore wind production, URI stands to establish a new industry in Rhode Island — a high-wage industry with long-term growth potential.

The University of Rhode Island 10