The Love Creek Marina at high tide.

Earlier today we found out that the research vessel Russel W. Peterson, which has been studying the potential impact of a wind farm on birds for Bluewater Wind, was in distress and needed Coast Guard intervention. The vessel ran aground in Bethany. We’ve since learned that one of the two crew members on the R/V Russel W. Peterson is dead. Ken Hayes, President of Aqua Survey, the company who owned the vessel released this statement:

This morning the liftboat Russell W. Peterson sent out a distress signal to the US Coast Guard.

The Peterson had been offshore Rehoboth Beach, DE, studying bird migration. The Coast Guard
is to be commended for dispatching rescuers by both sea and air. The Peterson was staffed by
two captains. Both were removed by the Coast Guard. We have been informed that one of the
captains did not survive the ordeal. Aqua Survey is not releasing names at this point. Our hearts
and prayers are with the family and friends of the lost mariner.

Aqua Survey will work closely with the Coast Guard and other agencies to safely and quickly
salvage the vessel.

And this is from Peter Mandelstam, President, Bluewater Wind:

“Everyone here at Bluewater Wind is deeply saddened by this tragic occurrence. Our thoughts and prayers are with the captain’s family, friends, and loved ones.”

The public parking lot at the end of Savannah Road in Lewes. It’s all sand.

A tree blocking the eastbound lane of King’s Highway, that’s the road to Cape Henlopen High School and the District office if you’re coming from Route 1 north. School was on time, but then around 8:30 a.m., an hour after the start of the day for many schools, the automated call came from the District Office that you shouldn’t send your child to school if there was flooding in your area…little late, fellas.

Downtown Milton.

The end of Old Landing Road.

Route 1 by Five Points.

The ocean at the Indian River Inlet.

A snowplow keeping Route 1 directly north of the Indian River Inlet Bridge free of sand.

The ocean in Rehoboth Beach, Rehoboth did a good job weathering the storm so far.

A small windmill on a home in Rehoboth cranking out power like a champ.

And, the R/V Russell W. Peterson, the research vessel that Bluewater Wind launched to study the possible impact of their wind farm on avian life, has run into trouble:

From WGMD News:

The Coast Guard responded to a distress call from a research vessel off the coast of Rehoboth Beach. Authorities say two people aboard the Russell W. Peterson activated an electronic positioning radio beacon and reported that the boat was breaking up and taking on water about 14 miles off the coast. A helicopter crew from the Coast Guard air station in Atlantic City, N.J., was on the scene, and two small boats from Cape May and Ocean City were also en route. The vessel, named after a former Delaware governor active in environmental issues, was christened in Wilmington just six weeks ago and was being used by Bluewater Wind to study migratory bird routes in connection with the proposed offshore wind farm.

More to come as the tide rolls in…

The Indian River Power Plant, Delaware’s worst polluter.

Last week I started getting e-mails from various sources telling me about another public hearing in Millsboro over the issuance of a permit for the Indian River Power Plant, Delaware’s worst polluter. This time, the permit was over a proposed “Activated Carbon Injection” system designed to reduce mercury emissions from the smokestacks.

I thought, “Less mercury? Woo hoo!” But then, I started getting e-mails from various environmental groups that were filled with cautions over the plan. I didn’t get it. But now, unfortunately, I do.

NRG’s plan is to use an “Activated Carbon Injection” system to trap mercury, which is great, and apparently cost effective. What isn’t great is that when the system is saturated, the mercury infused waste will be dumped in the fly ash pile already on the plant’s site. An ash pile that has no barrier between it and the ground, it isn’t covered, and it isn’t equipped to handle toxic waste. So basically the mercury can leech into the ground, or it can simply fly off the top of the uncovered ash pile.

“A new solid waste is going to be generated and where and how this waste is managed is really a significant issue for the public.” ~ John Austin, Citizens for Clean Power AUDIO

(As an aside, it seems that even though studies are showing that fly ash piles are indeed toxic, the EPA is just getting around to thinking about it, meanwhile the piles are not regulated by either the EPA or DNREC, but what the heck, substances like arsenic couldn’t be dangerous, right?)

41st District Representative Greg Hastings, the only legislator who bothered to show up for the hearing.

“From sitting here tonight, it just makes me more aware of the work I need to do.” ~ 41st District Representative Greg Hastings AUDIO

And while an NRG Energy Representative assured the crowd the plant wanted to be a “good neighbor,” years of the facility thwarting regulations has left some, shall we say, “skeptical.”

Three representatives from NRG Energy in Millsboro. I’m showing them sitting down from behind because I’m so nice.

“You did stand here and say you want to be a “good neighbor.” I’m going to look in your face and I’m going to say, “As a physician who deals with cancer patients you be a “good neighbor,” do not fight these people, do not fight us by saying you won’t put it in a lined fly ash pit.” Do you like to sleep at night? Do you?” ~ Dr. Kim Furtado to NRG Representatives at the hearing AUDIO

Michael Fiorentino from the Mid Atlantic Environmental Law Center attended the hearing to ask questions. I think he was hired by one or more of the citizens groups in the area. I spoke with Mr. Fiorentino after the hearing to get his take on the plan:

“Our primary concern here tonight was that in the effort to control one dangerous pollutant we don’t end up squeezing that pollution out in another form.” ~ Michael Fiorentino, Mid Atlantic Environmental Law Center AUDIO

There were a few speakers who surprised me. One was a man named Brooks Freeman from Lewes:

“I’ve only spent 6 months of my entire life away from this area. I’ve never smoked, and I’ve never drank. I am a cancer survivor.” ~ Brooks Freeman AUDIO

The other was a Thomas Sullivan, a Millsboro resident:

“Three years ago my doctor warned me not to eat one fish out of the Indian River.” ~ Thomas Sullivan AUDIO

Now, I’ve got to say that the best part of the evening was when I stood up and tried to ask some questions, and for the record, I was extraordinarily polite. AUDIO But unfortunately, Hearing Officer, Robert Haynes of DNREC told me “No, no, no” and said I could ask DNREC and NRG questions after the hearing was over. I guess they didn’t want me on the record.

Well, Mr. Haynes denying me the right to ask questions really ticked off a woman in the crowd that I never saw before, and who left before I could find out who she was. I want to thank her for standing up for me like that. I found Mr. Haynes response to her unsettling, to say the least. Apparently, I’m not a “member of the public.”

“She’s a member of the press, she’s not a member of the public.” ~ DNREC Hearing Official Robert Haynes, ruling that I’m not a member of the public, and therefore I have no right to ask questions in a DNREC public hearing. AUDIO OF MY RIGHTS BEING DENIED BY A BUREAUCRAT

Now, just to add a little salt to the wound, after the hearing, the three NRG Representatives went squirrelly. One disappeared immediately, and the other two refused to answer my questions. And yeah, I have audio of the NRG people blowing me off. AUDIO OF NRG EMPLOYEES REFUSING TO ANSWER MY QUESTIONS

For the record, here are the horrifying questions I was going to ask DNREC and NRG Energy

1. What is the total amount of mercury in pounds or tons put out by the IRPP per year.

2. Are you (NRG) using the cleaner burning coal now? What kind of coal are you currently burning?

3. What percentage of NRG’s electricity is contracted to Delaware energy companies, how much goes to out of state contracts?

4. Is the 80% reduction based on total output or is it for each unit?

5. How often will emissions be tested, by whom, and is NRG responsible for telling DNREC they aren’t in compliance? Who tells DNREC if there is a violation?

6. Tell us about the erosion around the fly ash pit, is the seawall compromised? Why isn’t it lined or covered? Are fly ash pits regulated by the EPA or DNREC?

7. Will NRG be “mothballing” Units 1 & 2 on schedule?

8. What is the public comment time frame?

Yes, all scandalous and out of line. No wonder DNREC Hearing Officer, Robert Haynes shut me down. HERE’S A SCANNED COPY OF MY NOTEBOOK PAGES WITH THE SCARY QUESTIONS.

So, I have been officially ruled “not a member of the public” by DNREC. And here I was walking around like I had the right to ask questions about a state permit for a facility in my backyard and in the backyard of the people in WGMD’s listening area.

Shame on me.

Incidentally, the NRG Representatives told Mr. Haynes that they have to have the permit in three weeks which means no opportunity for the public to digest what went on Wednesday night, and then add their comments to the record for consideration.

You can contact DNREC Hearing Officer Robert Haynes at 302-739-9039 and his email address is Robert.Haynes@state.de.us.

Senator Harris McDowell’s wind farm hearings may have cost the tax payers a bundle in DC lawyers and expert witnesses, but today, those few days of hearings resulted in a report, a long report. And long must mean it’s good. You can read it HERE.

That report was immediately refuted by a Minority Report put out by members of the same committee. You can see where other Senators are in disagreement with that report HERE.

But the report that everyone seems to ignore, is the Public Service Commission’s final staff report that is based on over a year of hearings, negotiations, studies, and the work of several independent consultants. That report, for those of you who can handle it, is HERE.

Meanwhile, Pat Gearity from Citizens for Clean Power is asking the Senate Energy and Transit Committee for the MOTHER LOAD of information about what they’re doing and the money they’re spending.

More to come…

Democrats and Republicans from the Delaware House and Senate are introducing legislation that would prohibit Delmarva Power and Light from charging their customers for for the costs they’re racking up while fighting to prevent having to enter into a long term contract for wind power.

SYNOPSISThis concurrent resolution recommends that the Public Service deny any request by Delmarva Power to recover from or pass-through to its ratepayers the costs it has incurred opposing the Power Purchase Agreement negotiated between Delmarva Power and Bluewater Wind pursuant to the criteria established in House Bill No. 6.    READ IT HERE…

 This is from a Sponsor of the legislation, Representative John Kowalko of Newark:

This resolution was crafted to reinforce my previously stated position that Delmarva Power and Light and its agents have always and will continue to put the interests of the company before that of the ratepayer. Statements made to me by President Stockbridge and VP Glen Moore at various public venues have always been consistent that they (Delmarva/Pepco) intend to pass through to the ratepayers expenses incurred in waging an obstructionist campaign against the mandates of HB6 and the best interests of their customers. They are certainly entitled to financial outlays accrued in meeting the obligations of HB6 but since that PPA was on the table December 18,2007 all subsequent expendetures should be their burden to bear. 

Looks like it’s on!

From the AP:

The Senate energy committee has approved a draft report critical of a proposed wind farm off the Delaware coast. The panel voted 4-2 in favor after dropping a recommendation that the Senate vote to instruct the legislature’s controller general to vote against the wind farm, which would kill the idea. 

The panel instead recommended that the Senate instruct the controller general to give serious weight to its report.

Stanton Democrat Karen Peterson, who voted against the report, said the hearings on which it is based were biased.  Three of four state agencies delayed a vote after controller general Russell Larson said there was no consensus in the General Assembly.

I spoke with Representative John Kowalko (D-Newark) and he was to the point:

“I consider the report bogus.” ~ Representative John Kowalko

I’m sure there will be more to come…

We are four different bloggers (two Republicans and two Democrats) with four distinct points of view. But we have come together because we agree that it’s time for Delaware to say yes to offshore wind power.

Bluewater Wind’s offshore wind farm has been reviewed in hearings, subject to repeated analyses, supported by thousands of letters and e-mails from citizens, selected in a competitive process, survived intense negotiations, and endorsed by a majority of members of Delaware’s House of Representatives.

One hurdle remains: House Concurrent Resolution 38, which enjoys the support of 35 legislators of both parties, has passed the House, and is headed to the Senate. We are calling upon the Senate to take one last decisive step to make Delaware the first state in the U.S. to make offshore wind power a reality.

We offer this joint statement as a prologue to our separate posts on the subject. But together we agree that the time has come to say yes to our energy future.

Dave Burris
Maria Evans
Jason Scott
Tom Noyes

TIME TO INVEST IN DELAWARE FIRST

Tourists will need a few extra quarters so their kids can check out the wind farm from the boardwalk with cool binocular things like they have on the top of the Empire State Building

Let’s face it, I’m not that green. I’m a global warming skeptic. I drive a car that’s less than stellar on gas mileage. I would march a billion rats into a laboratory for testing to ensure I’d have one less wrinkle a decade or two down the road. But I’m in favor of the wind farm proposed to sit off the coast of Rehoboth Beach.     

The wind farm construction, according to Bluewater Wind, will bring in around “400 - 500 construction jobs and 80 – 100 operations and maintenance jobs for the life of the 25 year contract.” Along with that, a regional shipping hub would be established at the Port of Wilmington and there’s a commitment to a teaching and training program for wind farm technicians.

For Sussex County, I can imagine opportunities beyond what Bluewater Wind is offering the state.

Charter boats can take tourists sightseeing or fishing at the wind farm. Souvenir shops will have little windmills to sell next to the light houses. Windmill t-shirts and earrings and snow globes…those cool binocular things on the board walk that you can put a quarter into so your kid can see the wind farm up close…local artists capturing the wind farm in oil and water and on film…other governments coming to our shores to check out the first off shore wind farm in the United States.  

But instead of investing in the state of Delaware, Delmarva Power wants to enter into long term contracts with on shore wind companies in other states. Gary Stockbridge, the President of Delmarva Power called these contracts, “an exciting day for the development of renewable energy in the region,” but I’m not sure why. “The region” will simply be paying for other states to develop and build wind farms. Somehow that’s not “exciting” to me.

It’s time to bring some new life into Delaware.  Call your State Senator today and tell them you want your money invested in Delaware’s future, not shipped off to Illinois or Indiana.

Click HERE find your Senator and their contact information.  

From Tom Noyes at Tommywonk:      

Given that worldwide energy demand will grow at least 50 percent over the next 20 years, it is hard to imagine how energy prices will not continue to climb. Instead of costing us extra, offhsore wind will almost certainly save us money. READ MORE ….  

From Jason at Delaware Liberal:

For Christians, the choice is clear. Disciples of Christ are called to love and to allow concern for justice shape their daily lives. As an extension to that calling christian spiritual leaders agree that, stewardship of the environment is a permanent reality. READ MORE…  

From Dave at Delaware Politics:

A week ago, one prominent Delawarean told me that the project was dead, the deal had been cut, that all of the players, including Senate leadership and the Governor candidates, were involved. It was over. DP&L was one of the good old boys and BWW was not and that was it.

I say that’s bullshit. I have two kids that have to breathe in Eastern Sussex County for the next 80 years, God willing. It’s only dead if YOU let it die…. READ MORE…

Ron Williams has a column in today’s News Journal that begins with a small, mysterious blurb about the wind farm proposed for the state of Delaware:

While the future of Bluewater Wind’s proposed offshore turbine park appears dim, don’t write the plan off yet. I’m told there are movements under way that could resuscitate the wind project on a regional basis to include New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia and the federal government. That also could cut down considerably on the local expense.        

“Dim?” Not necessarily according to three Delaware Representatives who helped get HCR 38, the resolution directing the Controller General to vote in favor of the wind farm on behalf of the House, passed last week by a 22-11 vote. 

Representative Dick Cathcart (R-Middletown), the House Majority Leader, was quoted slamming Delmarva Power recently for their, shall we say, verbal prowess. I spoke with Mr. Cathcart Friday morning and we talked about how every Sussex County Republican except one voted against the measure, (and, incidentally, those same Sussex County Republicans all voted for House Bill 6, the legislation that gave us the wind farm), and we discussed some legislative possibilities:

“The other option, quite frankly, is that the leadership committee, which is made up of the leadership in both chambers, gets together and there’s a vote of the leadership committee.” ~ House Majority Leader Dick Cathcart (R) AUDIO OF FULL INTERVIEW   

  

So who was the one Sussex County Republican who voted in favor of HCR 38? It was 41st District Representative Greg Hastings. His reason for voting in favor of the Resolution will shock you, he basically followed the law:

“If you try to deviate from that piece of legislation, I think that, in my opinion, is when we got off track, and other things became muddied in the mix.” ~ 41st District Representative Greg Hastings (R) AUDIO OF FULL INTERVIEW   

The wind farm would sit 11.5 miles off the coast of Rehoboth Beach, and Rehoboth Beach is Representative Pete Schwartzkopf’s District. Schwartzkopf has been a strong supporter of the project and from what I understand, was a persuasive speaker during the HCR 38 discussion on the House floor.

“I will say this, in the six years that I’ve been there, I think it was the best, most open and most informative debate that we’ve ever had.” ~ 14th District Representative Pete Schwartzkopf (D) AUDIO OF FULL INTERVIEW     

Now the full burden of whether or not the wind farm project goes forward sits directly on the shoulders of the Delaware State Senate.

Click HERE to get in touch with your Senator.

Word from Dover is that House Concurrent Resolution 38 has just passed the Delaware House with 25 votes.  That is the legislation that recommends Controller Russ Larson approve the power purchase agreement between Bluewater Wind and Delmarva Power. You can read HCR 38 HERE.

Now it goes to the Senate, where a certain Senator can simply toss it in his desk drawer and make it go away, or the Senate can take a stand…

UPDATE: Tommywonk was there and has all of the details, including the fact that all of the Sussex County Representatives voted AGAINST the measure except for 14th District Representative Pete Schwartzkopf and 41st District Representative Greg Hastings.

Just last week Delmarva Power said it wasn’t going to release “preliminary numbers” on purching land based wind power, which lead to this juicy fun:

Cathcart and Rep. Robert Valihura, R-Beau Tree, said senior Delmarva officials and their lobbyist, Joe Farley, met with the House Republican caucus shortly before the break. Both lawmakers said they heard Delmarva representatives promise them cost estimates for onshore wind bids, which they could compare to Bluewater prices, by the time they return next week.    

But Delmarva spokesman Bill Yingling said the company never made such a promise. He said the company only said it would have preliminary numbers by the end of March, and those numbers would not be released.

“Representative Valihura must have misunderstood our statements,” Yingling said.

In reaction, Valihura said, “That’s just a flat-out lie.” And Cathcart added. “If they’re telling you they did not say that, they’re not telling you the truth.”

Yesterday, Delmarva Power released “final” numbers on purchasing land based wind power. You can read what the summary says HERE.  Let’s just say it’s a little short on information.