Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

PROVIDENCE -- Deepwater Wind has hired Sandra Whitehouse as a consultant to advise the company on permitting for a marine wind farm proposed in state waters off the coast of Block Island.

Whitehouse, a marine biologist and the wife of U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, will help the New Jersey-based developer put together an application that will be submitted to the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council.

Deepwater announced the hiring Friday. The company also brought on board a manager for its Providence office and a new liaison on Block Island. Bryan Wilson, a former member of the New Shoreham Town Council, will serve in the latter position, replacing Andres de Lasa.

Sandra Whitehouse is a senior policy advisor to the Ocean Conservancy, an advocacy group, and an environmental policy advisor to the state House of Representatives. She is a former member of the Coastal Resources Management Council and was a consultant for the Coastal States Stewardship Foundation, assisting states in adapting to climate change

Deepwater proposes installing 8 wind turbines in state waters about 3 miles southeast of Block Island by 2012. The company envisions it as the first offshore wind farm in the nation, but other developers in Massachusetts, New Jersey and Delaware are also vying for that distinction.

If successful, the Block Island wind farm would be the precursor to a much larger project of 106 turbines at least 15 miles from the Rhode Island shore. Because the bigger wind farm would be located in federal waters, the U.S. Department of the Interior's Minerals Management Service would be the leading permitting agency for it.

Deepwater's two projects would cost an estimated $1.5 billion.

 Tags  Block Island Sandra Whitehouse

Comments

pod said:

Being married to Sheldon she should be an authority on hot air.

Link | November 13, 2009 1:49 PM
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Bob said:

It's all in the game...it's not what you know but who you know!

Link | November 13, 2009 2:07 PM
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KaChing said:

money goes round and round

Link | November 13, 2009 2:19 PM
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dave said:

Can you say " PRE-APPROVED". Like DIck Cheney and the no-bid contract to Haliburton at the start of the loooooong and costly war !!

Link | November 13, 2009 2:27 PM
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Onwatch said:

No, it's all in the name. He has the perfect political name. Truthfully, though, I'm sure they won't treat this application any differently than if it was submitted by, let's say, a Kennedy.

Link | November 13, 2009 2:45 PM
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Grumpy Old Man said:

Pod, I LOVED your comment!

Link | November 13, 2009 3:37 PM
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Blow Hard said:

It doesn't matter. Deepwater is Carcieri's baby

Link | November 13, 2009 4:04 PM
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Dan said:

I have to admit, she does sound pretty qualified.

Link | November 13, 2009 4:23 PM
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Liberal Democrat said:

I had really respected Senator Whitehouse. And now it's corrupt Rhode Island politics as usual.

This is really disappointing. He's certainly lost my vote forever.

Can corruption get any more blatant? I guess not, but then this is RI, there always seem to be new depths to reach for.

Link | November 14, 2009 1:16 AM
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Oughta rename the company to Deep Pockets said:

Sorry, but I still haven't gotten over the fact that they gave a $1.5 billion contract to a virtual company that until very recently did not even exist, never mind have any experience in air power.

It's all about deep pockets (ours), and all the playahs have their hand it them.

Link | November 15, 2009 3:01 PM
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