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Lewes is on the shortlist of places Bluewater Wind is considering placing an operations, maintenance and monitoring facility for the offshore wind park the company plans to develop about 13 miles off the Rehoboth Beach coastline in the Atlantic Ocean.
“Lewes is clearly one place we’re interested in, but we have to understand all of the logistics and access points,” said Jim Lanard, head of Bluewater Wind strategic planning.
The wind park – commonly called a wind farm – would contain 150 to 200 wind-driven turbines capable of producing enough electricity to power about 100,000 homes.
The company estimates Delaware households could begin receiving wind-produced energy by 2012.
Lanard said the purpose of the land-based facility includes remotely monitoring turbine performance.
He said spare parts and supplies for wind-park equipment would also be stored at the site.
Lanard said the company also needs a location to base a vessel, which would be used to transport maintenance crews to the wind park.
He said the vessel could be based at a port near the operation and maintenance facility, or a single site could serve all needs.
Lanard said the facility would include multipurpose rooms, where employees would receive training and safety updates, and an education center where the public would learn about turning wind energy into electricity.
“We would invite schools to see the land-based component of offshore wind energy,” he said.
Lanard said a schedule of when the company would decide on where to site its facilities has not been set.
“We’re hoping it’s sooner rather than later, but there are many discussions that have to go on,” he said.
He said the wind park would function around the clock and would require 80 to 100 employees who would work in shifts to cover operations and scheduled and unscheduled maintenance.
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