Wind developer's attorney was Carcieri's chief of staff
12:59 PM Thu, Sep 25, 2008 | Permalink
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The developer selected by Governor Carcieri to build a $1.5 billion wind farm off the coast of Rhode Island is represented by a local attorney who served as Carceri's chief of staff for four years. The attorney, Jeffrey Grybowski, is a partner with Hinckley, Allen & Snyder LLP and was hired by Deepwater Wind in May, said Chris Brown, chief executive officer of Deepwater. He served as Carcieri's chief of staff between 2003 and 2007. "He's an attorney for the firm," Brown said. "We used his understanding the law and the background of things like the [Coastal Resources Management Council], the permitting process -- really the legal aspects of the Rhode Island project." "You really need a solid legal team," he added. "There's about 100 permits [needed] on the environmental side." Brown, as well as a spokeswoman for Carcieri insisted that Grybowski's ties to the governor played no role in Deepwater's selection as the winning bidder. "The evaluation process was handled completely by the evaluation team," said Amy Kempe, the spokeswoman. The team consisted of four state officials and a dean at the University of Rhode Island. They were assisted by two outside consultants who were brought in for their expertise in engineering and energy, said Andrew Dzykewicz, the governor's chief energy adviser. Kempe said the governor was informed that Grybowski was working with Deepwater at the time the team made its recommendation that Deepwater should get the contract. "What it comes down to," Dzykewicz said, "these guys clearly had the best proposal. Just because we have a guy that we know as part of the team doesn't mean we should disqualify them." 
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Well,that explains this.
Deepwater is officially based in Hoboken, N.J., Brown said. But the 15-employee company really has no headquarters as of yet, he said. The Rhode Island development would be the company’s first major wind project. Deepwater is among the bidders for another offshore project, off the coast of New Jersey. The company is also seeking permission to build a small-scale research, development and demonstration project in the waters just beyond the northeastern tip of the North Fork of Long Island, New York. The Plum Island Wind Park would consist of three wind turbines.
Another frist for RI pick a company that has never done what they say they can.Pay them 1.5 billion to work it out.Sounds like it could 2.5 billion when and if it ever get done.
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I smell a kick back!!!
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Wink Wink Nod Nod.... Naw, absolutely, positively, no influence on the decision at all!
What to buy a bridge?
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The Key word is "WAS" in the first term part of the Governors Admin team.
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This off shore electrical generation via WIND POWER has the potential to be one of the two positive legacies that Governor Don Carcieri leaves behind.
This starts the path to energy Independence from carbon based fuels. Moreover has a potential to crearte Job's for RI down the road. The contractor selection process (per Projo reports) was as they say in RI "on the Up and UP".
Moreover - The technical studies were conducted out in the open but fire walled from the potential contractors biding process.
PLEASE let all of us try to keep RI legacy politics of the past out of this. Yes, including distribution of again as they say in RI a "pieces of the action". You can read between the lines I hope?
Oh, just in case you were wondering Governor Carcieri's other work in progress and hopefully legacy that he leaves behind is the several reforms presently in process associated with the reduction is size and cost of state government.
High on that list is the necessary reforms associated with a reduction of the liberal largeness attributed to RI State Employees salary benefits and pensions.
Clearly such a legacy once acompl;ioshed will provide a foundition for The State of Rhode Island to grow into the 21 st century global market place.
Thank You Governor Carcieri
William F Horan Engineering Fellow
Middletown, RI
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It would not be Lil Rhody if there were not impropriety involved. I bet a Deepwater exec. is probably a relative of the Gov. or a member of the evaluation team.
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Typical Governor Carcieri move!! He will probably get on tv and blame state workers for the reason he had to pick a company outside the state.
He should be impeached!!!
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