Wharton Sinkler: Beware of NH legislation against offshore wind power

To The Daily Sun,

The New Hampshire Legislature is legislating against the development of offshore wind power.

HCR4 is a resolution rejecting all offshore wind energy projects in NH waters and the Gulf of Maine. It was voted “Ought To Pass” on Feb. 4, by 9-6 in the House Science, Technology and Energy Committee, and will soon be voted on by the full House.

HB 682 is legislation renaming the Office of Offshore Wind Industry Development and Energy Innovation to the “Office of Energy Innovation” and striking goals related to offshore wind and workforce development. It passed a House vote by 206-163 on Feb. 20, and now goes to the state Senate.

These moves are not what New Hampshire needs. Offshore wind energy has high potential off our coast, due to strong steady winds and ample siting on the continental shelf. Benefits to our state include: local jobs and economic development; ample low cost energy with zero emissions; reducing the flow of ratepayer money to out-of-state fossil fuel producers; and avoiding the shocks from fuel price spikes.

Yes, there are issues regarding sharing the space for offshore wind with fisheries, and impacts on marine ecosystems. But simply rejecting all offshore wind “until such time as all questions and risks have been fully satisfied to result in no harm”, as HCR4 does, is an unrealistically high bar. One will never completely resolve all questions and risks. Shared use and best practices for risk mitigation is the right approach, as shown by many examples around the world of successfully integrating offshore wind and fisheries. Slamming the door is what the fossil fuel lobby wants, and is pushing legislators to deliver.

Granite Staters are not being served well here. Tell state legislators to oppose these misguided bills.

Wharton Sinkler

Sandwich