Rather than simply accept that the people in D.C. have determined to impose wind turbines on our coast, I would urge that the mayors of Rehoboth, Lewes, Dewey Beach and Fenwick join with the 12 New Jersey mayors who are demanding an immediate moratorium on offshore energy development until scientists can assure the public the noise pollution related to the construction and operation of the turbines will not endanger the whales that traverse our waters. With eight whales washing ashore in New York and New Jersey in just the last two months, concern is rising that there may be more going on than just the usual dangers of fishing nets and propeller hits.
Meanwhile, Delaware state officials should learn from the sorry experience of Massachusetts, where both Commonwealth Wind and Mayflower Wind are trying to revise their contracts due to projections of higher costs and less power generation than originally promised. And that’s without getting into the still-unresolved issues of whether battery technology will advance sufficiently to protect our electrical grid from periods of calm weather.
Overall, it makes the most sense for Delaware to revisit the advantages of natural gas-powered electrical plants. Our growing population requires reliable energy using proven technology and a minimal environmental impact.
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