Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

Nearly 100 acres of Navy land in Portsmouth originally deemed surplus will now be withheld for possible alternative energy initiative, the Navy announced on Tuesday.

The change reduces the total available Navy land on Aquidneck Island to about 250 acres, including many parcels on, or with views of Narragansett Bay. The Navy is giving up the land as part of the national Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process.

The announcement concerns two sites along the western shore of Portsmouth, both former fuel tank farms on the inland side of Burma Road.

In June 2008, the Navy announced that it would retain only 30 of the 123 acres at the two sites for potential wind or solar power projects. But Tuesday's announcement indicated the Navy wants keep all the land at the two sites for possible alternative energy facilities.

"We were a little too conservative," Navy spokeswoman Lisa Rama said, explaining how the Navy realized more land would be necessary if it were to move forward with a large-scale project to provide a new source of energy for Naval Station Newport. "It will give us the flexibility to look into these projects."

She said the Navy is seeking funding for studies to determine whether the two sites offer promise for alternative energy.

"Naval Station Newport is undergoing a substantial amount of growth and transformation with the arrival of new commands and personnel," according to a press release. "The Navy has mandated renewable energy goals and is looking for opportunities to reduce future energy costs in an environmentally friendly way. This decision provides significant options to meet these broad Navy goals at Naval Station Newport."

Tina Dolen, who, as executive director of the Aquidneck Island Planning Commission, has been working with the island communities to plan for the transfer of the Navy properties, said, "I haven't heard a lot of disappointment."

Dolen said that Portsmouth officials have been more focused on former fuel storage sites further north on Burma Road, which are closer to the Melville Marina District and offer better opportunities for economic development.

Also, she said, creating a source of cheap energy "will only enhance [Newport's] competitiveness as a training center for the Navy. It's excellent for the communities because we receive so many benefits form the fact they are here. They are the third largest economic engine in the state."

 Tags  Navy Newport RI portsmouth Portsmouth RI

Leave a comment

Please be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish.

Name:

Email:

URL:  

Remember personal info?

Captcha:

Type the characters you see in the picture above.