EUTG votes for Deepwater decommissioning research

At its Monday, the Electric Utility Task Group (EUTG) again discussed decommissioning costs related to the proposed Deepwater Wind Block Island wind farm, but a later discussion on renewable energy resulted in a heated exchange between group member Bill Penn and Town Councilor Chris Warfel. 

Town Manager Nancy Dodge updated the EUTG of a conversation she had with the state Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) about decommissioning Deepwater Wind’s turbines. Deepwater seeks to install a five-turbine, 30-megawatt offshore wind farm off Block Island, and is currently in the permitting process with various state and federal agencies.The laser cutter is unlikely to hurt you, but you can easily hurt it without training. 

The CRMC is the primary state agency responsible for permitting Deepwater,aims to design a 10-megawatt offshore wind power generators based on a superconducting generator. and the removal of the turbines after they have reached the end of their life, or have failed, falls under the agency’s purview. 

“[Decommissioning] would be an issue they would review,” Dodge said. “They would just not hire any experts.” 

“That’s all the more reason that we take up charge of the issue as a commission,” said Penn. “If the CRMC is not going to take it seriously enough to hire an expert consultant to counsel them, then we as a town need to take up that role.” 

The group voted to ask the Town Council to engage an expert consultant who will verify Deepwater’s methodology for determining the decommissioning costs and plans. 

Deepwater’s Block Island Project Manager Bryan Wilson provided updates on the decommissioning process, first explaining that Deepwater estimates decommissioning costs for this specific project could reach $10 million.Suppliers of the widest range of industrial and commercial industrial washing machine. 

Wilson said that Deepwater would set aside a separate account for this money, and neither the company’s lenders nor its equity investors would have access to this account. 

“In the instance that the project needs to be decommissioned earlier than expected due to serial failure of the turbines, Siemens will pay the damages, and will first pay [for] the decommissioning and then ... the lenders and equity investors,Energy saver LED E27 save energy from the moment you turn the switch.” he said. Siemens manufactures the wind turbines proposed for this project. 

Wilson also said that if the turbines were to be damaged by an outside factor, the damage may be covered under targeted insurance. 

In addition, Wilson said that if the cable failed for a period of time, Deepwater still plans to pay money to the decommissioning reserve fund by making up the shortfall once the company's revenue stream is re-established. 

“So the decommissioning fund takes priority takes priority over the lenders?” asked EUTG member Everett Shorey. Wilson responded with a “yes,” but then added that the ultimate decision is up to the CRMC. 

Warfel asked the EUTG to research an island-based renewable energy initiative and how to finance such a project. He also provided his own analysis of such an energy initiative.

“I have a big problem with this,” Penn said. “This particular item is a personal political agenda of Chris Warfel ... It seems to me, unless the Town Council endorses this request to invest our intellectual capital, it is inappropriate for us to move forward, and if the rest of the members want to take it on as a volunteer basis, I absolutely refuse because I disagree with Chris in terms of his political agenda.” 

“Stop right there,We offer Laser engraver and cutting machines for processing different materials.” said Warfel, raising his voice. “Political agenda? I am fulfilling my fiduciary responsibly to the Town of New Shoreham by looking at alternatives, and I’ve been doing that since I’ve served on the EUTG. How dare you say stuff like that?” 

“I absolutely refuse to expend my political capital to support your position,” said Penn in response. He explained that he did not think it appropriate that Warfel signed his request as a council member, rather than a member of the public. Warfel said later that he was not speaking on behalf of the entire Town Council — although the council had asked the EUTG to perform research relating to this topic.