Dear Commissioner Foley
Please accept our comments regarding DRI 688: Vineyard Wind Undersea Cable We respectfully offer these comments, and request that they be entered into the public record.
Difficult times are upon us. The oceans, their creatures, our livelihoods, all beneficence from the oceans, are under attack. Industrial wind is a chimera, and does not produce meaningful power, if any. World wide, net zero. Points two of one percent. Claims that it is clean, free, safe and economical, are completely false.Industrial wind is likely the biggest scam of the modern age. We cannot think of any other tax grab arrangement that is so completely advantageous to developers. Unfortunately, the public purse and people and wildlife, are the forced “undertakers” to this industry, sadly putting to rest, wearily, their homes, livelihoods, natural surrounds, and yes, their pocket book health.We wish to address the question particularly of offshore, USA, and of course the cabling. There is a chance to push back the aggressive undertaking now to advance offshore wind in the US. Please take good advantage of having a near first whack at this. Nearly first, as Block Island is truly first, although not oceanic. Block Island, as we all know, only employs regularly about 8 persons. The cabling is already proving difficult. The “dynamic” shoreline waters are proving difficult to “manage” and even expert engineers have had to lay blocks of cement on certain exposed, highly charged and exposed, lengths of cable.”Bonnie Brady of the Long Island Commercial Fishing Association called Deepwater Wind “the not ready for primetime players” because of technical problems with the Block Island Wind Farm, such as exposed undersea cables.”
Cable survey ongoing
| Cable survey ongoingNational Grid and Ørsted U.S. Offshore Wind are analyzing the soil and terrain surrounding the two electric cabl… |
National Grid and Ørsted U.S. Offshore Wind are analyzing the soil and terrain surrounding the two electric cables at the Town Beach, which have become exposed. National Grid’s sea2shore cable connects the island to the mainland, and contains fiber optic cable for the town’s broadband purposes, while Ørsted’s export cable delivers wind-generated electricity from the Block Island Wind Farm to the island’s electrical grid.
“We have begun land based geotechnical surveys along the Ørsted and National Grid cables,” said Ted Kresse, Director of Strategic Communications for National Grid. “This effort, primarily focused on soil borings, could take a few weeks to complete depending on the weather. Ørsted and National Grid will compile and analyze the data collected to help assess sand cover over the cables in the highly dynamic near-shore area. We will continue to keep the town apprised of our progress.”
National Grid and Ørsted began the geophysical survey work in early December, utilizing a remotely operated underwater vehicle from the shore out to about 2,500 feet into the water. The companies say the survey work is designed to characterize the near-shore environment, which they have called “dynamic,” in order to properly address the exposed cables.
Improper and shallow burying of cables has led to subsequent measurement of EMF, and assessment of dangers.
Also, please note that this project is experiencing other problems with mandatory shut downs for repairs.
Block Island wind farm, power cable run into snags
| Block Island wind farm, power cable run into snags NEW SHOREHAM – While renewable advocates continue to celebrate the launch of the nation’s first operational offs… |
The utility, however, ran into some digging issues when it approached the Block Island shoreline.
“During the installation of the [undersea] cable in a short, 80-foot area seaward of Crescent Beach, unplowable material was encountered preventing the cable from being buried to the targeted depth,” said spokesman David D. Graves. “We are currently working with the appropriate agencies on an agreed-upon solution.”
Graves wouldn’t speculate on what it might take to remediate the mishap until the company hears from the R.I. Coastal Resource Management Council, which is currently reviewing the project.
However, the Block Island Times reports the reburying process would require the cable to be “de-energized,” which could further disrupt electricity traveling from the Block Island wind farm to the mainland.
The wind farm is expected to power about 90 percent of Block Island’s electric demand and 1 percent of Rhode Island’s, and while Deepwater Wind is currently selling electricity to National Grid for mainland electricity users, Block Island users have not yet used any of the power.
Despite these problems ongoing, the developer insists there will be no serious impacts to productivity.
Of utmost concern, of course, is the impact to wildlife in the region, both from the turbines themselves, bird choppers, and eco traps, and from the undersea cabling. These concerns are noted world wide and there is at this time a massive amount of uncertainty exists on engineering solutions to the various anti-safe and anti-environmentally friendly, offshore attempts.
The technical report in 2010 advancing the Block Island project, six turbines, indicated that there would be electrical impacts from the underwater transmission cables to within 10 meters: this could potentially harm marine mammals, birds and fish, and turtles. We respectfully suggest that this report was designed to be pro developer, and not in the best interest of marine animals and wildlife. We suggest that the radius of harm is much wider, and the impacts ultimately will not be known for a very long time.
The industry itself acknowledges the costs associated with cable issues.
Among other issues with offshore wind farms, one of the biggest problems to affect the industry are issues with subsea cables. Failures and issues during installation and maintenance of subsea cables have cost companies millions of dollars and have caused many delays in this new and quickly rising industry.
| Subsea Cable Damage a Risk to Offshore Wind FarmsIssues during installation of subsea cables have cost companies millions of dollars and have caused many delays … |
While much information on cable issues is closely guarded, there have been some high profile cases as well as some studies done regarding damage to offshore wind farms. One of these studies, conducted by the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), partially delves into issues specific to subsea cables. Failure statistics have shown that third party mechanical damage to cables is three to five times more likely that the risk of internal cable failures. A few examples of third-party subsea cable damage include:
- Jackup “Jacked Up” On a Cable:
One issue is the risk of Jackups “Jacking Up” on a cable. A Jackup is a floating barge fitted with long support legs that can be raised or lowered to service oil and gas platforms or wind turbines. According to the study by the BSEE, there have been issues with cables getting caught in the jackup and being damaged in the equipment.
- Anchors Damage To Cable:
Another common issue is damage from third party anchors. Often times, anchors of laying vessels will tangle with the cable being laid and cause damage to the cable.
- Cable Kinked
Perhaps one of the most common issues with subsea cables is their tendency to kink or bend. It is very easy to get a kink into the line when preparing to install cables and unkinking is a major exercise requiring special skills.
In addition to these issues, other common problems to cable installation can include: damage to cable during installation, weather or soil-related damage, cable or joint failure, or sediment movement that can lead to cable exposure.
Subsea cables are complicated pieces of equipmentand need to be handled with care and should only be used with only the best cable hardware to promote longevity and fortification. PMI is ready to equip your cables with the highest quality cable hardware.Of course there are issues of deep concern to fishermen.
| Fishermen Divided on Plans for More Offshore Wind NARRAGANSETT, R.I. — Commercial fishermen and sport fishermen are split over the benefits of offshore wind facil… |
The claims that cabling and turbines “attract” fish is still very much disputed world wide. Certain species may cluster at the foundation bottoms, but even these are not seen universally as positive for food chains, and are now believed to disrupt natural patterns of habitat, feeding, and reproduction for OTHER species.
We do not think it necessary to hone in much on the pounding and noise, audible and ILFN from turbine and cable installation, pile driving. This is completely known to disrupt whales, porpoises, dolphins, all manner of sea creatures who depend on their supremely acute aural intelligence for survival.
We assure you, any production of turbines offshore (Vineyard) will be disastrous for nature and people and will ultimately burden tax payers openly or discretely, because as noted above, wind does not produce much. Net zero and less….likely a negative net loss as turbines also must be heated, cooled, stabilize and turn, drawing from or requiring electricity yes, from conventional sources. Can you hear that sucking sound? Dollars out of your pocket?
Decommissioning? A new report from Europe suggests that blade disposal for one, is massively expensive and that blades are supposed to be at end of cycle, returned to the manufacturer. In the UK, this means shipping the blades back to Germany! Can you imagine the cost. Can we even imagine this happening? In truth, we cannot, and we KNOW massive numbers of end of life cycle blades are simply being buried.
We have not yet seen a decommissioning report/requirement for Vineyard.
Please use all your administrative power to end this proposed project.
Thank you very much. and with sincere best wishes,
Sincerely,
Sherri Lange CEO North American Platform Against Wind Power
www.na-paw.org
