RE: Protest at the offshore wind information event David T. Stevenson, Director
DNREC is considering leasing land to US Wind to bring offshore wind power cables into a Delaware State Park at 3Rs beach. An informational event will be held at the Bethany Beach Town Hall at 214 Garfield Parkway on Tuesday March 12, 4 PM to 7 PM. 214 Garfield Parkway. DNREC states, “The meeting will not cover or take comment about the wind turbines themselves and other possible parts of transmission lines”. The state agency wants to avoid the questions about the real consequences of bringing power ashore. Delaware’s only leverage on this Maryland subsidized project in federal waters is the approval of this lease.
If this lease is approved it sets a precedent and there is nothing else stopping the massive industrialization of our coastline with a wall of turbines from Cape Henlopen to the Ocean City inlet. Plan to protest at the event to show DNREC how opposed people are to giant wind turbines with flashing red nighttime warning lights dominating our now pristine ocean views. DNREC also does not want to hear objections to cables being buried just three feet under our protected inland bays. Here is a summary of things DNREC needs to hear about the consequences of approving this land lease request:
· This is a Maryland approved project entirely off Ocean City, Maryland. Its Maryland’s problem to find a place to bring power onshore.
· A university of Delaware study indicates ruined ocean views will hurt tourism and property values in our beach communities
· A federal agency is approving projects despite egregious negative environmental impacts
The governor claimed US Wind is offering $100 million in benefits to the state in exchange for project approvals. First, it is a conflict of interest for the state to be negotiating payments from US Wind at the same time they are considering permits. Second, when considering payments over time the payments need to be converted to current dollars. The $100 million over 20 years becomes $40 million in current dollars, $2 million a year.
A 2021 Delaware Tourism report shows $2.7 billion a year in beach tourist spending. Just a 0.1% loss in tourism wipes out the money US Wind is offering. The UD survey calculated we might see a 15% loss showing turbines about half the size of the ones now planned for use, or a $400 million a year loss.
The survey also expects lost property values, but gave no estimates of how much. There are roughly 64,000 housing units at the beach based on census data, valued at about $1 million each according to Zillow, so roughly $64 billion in property value. A loss of 0.003% in property value wipes out the $2 million a year from US Wind. A recent University of Connecticut Study titled, “Commercial wind turbines and residential home values” found first year property value losses with highly visible turbines could reach 11%, or a $7 billion loss at Delaware beach towns.
The federal agency that approves projects, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, says the following about offshore wind in its environmental impact statement. Vessel collisions will increase, and US Coast Guard Search & Rescue Operations will be delayed. That means increased risk of human death. Noise from construction and operations will harass marine life including endangered species. That means more marine life deaths, and risks extinction of the North Atlantic right whale. Turbines will interfere with civil and military radar. That risks vessel collisions and reduced military security. Commercial fishermen will abandon fishing in lease areas. That means lost income for fisherman, and lowers food security.
We will pay a high price for allowing power to come ashore in Delaware. DNREC needs to consider all these costs during the lease approval process.
“We invite all concerned citizens to attend our rally, where we can collectively express our
perspectives in a respectful and constructive manner. Your presence will contribute to a
thoughtful dialogue on the potential impacts of this proposed project. Together, we can make a positive impact while maintaining a respectful atmosphere.”- David Stevenson, CRI
David T. Stevenson, Director of Energy and Environmental Policy
3/9/2024
More Info Below
The Bethany Beach Town Council is again welcoming foreign owned US Wind to their Town Hall to showcase US Wind's biased presentation of their plan to bring high voltage electrical cables from the Maryland-offshore-wind-turbine project onto Delaware State Park 3 R's Beach, with a direct collision course with numerous baby horseshoe crab nurseries in the Rehoboth Bay, disrupting their environment with a barrage electromagnetic pulses and deafening sound waves.
At the upcoming Bethany Beach Town Hall to be held on Tuesday 3/12/24, US Wind plans to present the "recreational" impacts of offshore wind turbines. Despite the extensive evidence that offshore wind farms devastate marine mammals, migrating birds, is toxic to the environment and is in no way "green" except for the color of the money US Wind will collect from Delaware residents, Governor Carney is welcoming foreign owned US Wind with open arms and giving them the green light to lease Delaware state land on 3R's beach, without addressing citizens' concerns, without a vote, and without the consent of the people.
US Wind plans only to address the high voltage electrical cables that they want to bring ashore onto Delaware land at this public "informational" exposition. Yes, the construction surrounding the "underground" cables WILL be visible on the beach and a structure will be built to house the mechanics on the State Park of 3Rs Beach as well as a parking structure. Despite the plan to bury high voltage cables in the sand, there is no guarantee that the high voltage cables will REMAIN underground, as they have not in other places where offshore wind cables have come ashore onto the beach. US Wind just hopes YOU will bury your HEAD in the sand. Sorry, US Wind, Delawareans are Fighting Blue Hens, not ostriches!
DNREC Secretary Shawn Garvin has stated on the DNREC website that the Department is committed to engaging the public to the greatest extent possible throughout the project’s development. Despite this statement, this presentation will NOT "engage the public" and allow public comment or questions, rather, it will be a one sided silent display of their well polished though misleading propaganda informational posters.
“US Wind’s proposal to bring transmission lines ashore in Delaware, along with Gov. Carney’s announcement about negotiating a potential lease, have generated considerable public interest,” Secretary Garvin said. “While the formal permitting process is ongoing, this public engagement event provides us an opportunity to share how this discrete portion of project will impact recreational aspects at the park.”
However, this sharing of information is ONE way. They talk, they don't listen. How do we know it is a one sided presentation and that their words to engage the public don't equate to action of genuine discourse? Because US Wind declined to attend a public townhall organized by the 38th Representative Ron Gray and Senator Gerald Hocker that was scheduled for February 29th. US Wind is NOT interested in answering questions from the public, only disseminating a false narrative, which they desire to control. This political dog and pony show will be anything but informational or genuine. It is merely a display of condescending faux deference to the illusion of the genuine desire to interact with the voters and citizens of Delaware.
Our US Constitution has given us a voice in just such circumstances, and that is the legal assembly of the citizenry. The right of the citizens to assemble and protest is so vital to a free nation, that it is our FIRST Amendment right. "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
Therefore, if you would like to send a message to the Bethany Beach Council, DNREC, Governor Carney and foreign owned US Wind, then plan to attend this dis-informational public event this Tuesday 3-7pm and bring your Stop-Offshore-Wind-Farms signs. Concerned citizens made a great showing at the January Bethany Beach town meeting that discussed accepting hush money from foreign owned US Wind, and we can come out again! Bring your friends, your family, and your neighbors. If we don't fight for our beaches, our economic choices, and for the marine animals who can't fight for themselves, no one else will. It's now or never, Delaware, stop offshore wind!
Would you like Stop Offshore Wind yard signs? Order them here and share with your neighbors! Purchase Stop Offshore Wind postcards and mail your thoughts to Governor Carney!
Next Meeting 38th District Republican Club
Our next meeting will be held at the Salted Rim on 26, starting at 6:00pm, located in the back tented area. There will be a cash bar and menu with seating. We will hear from the Republican Gubernatorial candidate, Jerry Price, as well as our District 4 Indian River School Board candidates. We will also get a legislative update from Senator Hocker and 38th Representative Ron Gray. So please make a note on your calendar and please plan to attend this very fun and informative event.
Please email any corrections to info@38thdrcp.com
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Do you want to get more involved locally? The 38th District includes Bethany Beach, South Bethany, Fenwick Island, Ocean View, Millville, Selbyville and Frankford. YOU can make a difference! Email info@38thdrcp.com for more information. Also, sign up for the State GOP e-Newsletters here.
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Join the GOP - Good Ordinary People who have common sense and will put an end to the nonsense!
Join the 38th District Republican Club and Subscribe to our e-Newsletter. If you like what we do and stand for, consider sending us your financial support.
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Upcoming 2023 Meetings
38th Club Meeting, Monday March 25th, Salted Rim, 6:30pm
Presidential Primary April 2, 2024
38th Club Meeting, Monday April 22, Millville Town Hall, 6:30pm
Indian River School Board Election, May 14th, Millville Community Center
State Republican Party Convention, May 18th
38th Club Meeting, Monday, May Date TBD, Fenwick Crab House, 6:30pm
State Primary Election, September 10, 2024
General Election, November 5, 2024
We welcome your support as we support conservative values and responsible government.
This newsletter is intended for informational purposes only. The content provided is for general information and entertainment purposes, and should not be construed as professional advice. The views and opinions expressed in this newsletter are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Club. Readers are encouraged to seek professional guidance or conduct their own research when making decisions based on the information provided in this newsletter. The Club does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information presented in this newsletter and will not be held liable for any errors or omissions.