Sussex County Council Vote on Conditional Use for Offshore Wind
Sussex County Council is to vote on a Conditional Use request on property near the Indian River Power Plant to be used to build an electric substation to accept electric power from US Wind’s Offshore wind project at its December 17th, 9 am meeting. The federal government just gave final approval to the project which is subsidized and established by the State of Maryland, but has power being brought ashore in a Delaware State Park and under the Indian River and Bay. The offshore wind project cannot be built without such a substation.
Sussex County defines a conditional use must promote the health, safety, morals, convenience, order, prosperity and welfare of the present and future inhabitants of Sussex County, and the conditional use must be for the general convenience and welfare of the inhabitants of Sussex County. As discussed in detail in numerous public comments on July 30, this conditional use should be denied on the merits. According to federal environmental impact studies U.S. Wind’s proposed turbines will have major negative impact and will:
1) Dominate the entire shoreline view in Delaware and Maryland leading to lost tourism and lower property values.
2) Noise from construction and operations will harass marine life risking extinction of whales and other endangered species.
3) Turbines interfere with radar risking vessel collisions, Coast Guard operations, and reduced military security.
4) Commercial fishermen will abandon fishing in lease areas.
5) The fragile Indian River and Bay will be compromised
The consequences of the proposed use to support offshore wind development does not promote the prosperity, or welfare of present or future inhabitants of Sussex County. The conditional use should be denied.
The period to accept public comments is closed. We encourage the public to attend the meeting to show Sussex County residents oppose this project. The meeting will be held at 2 The Circle, Georgetown, DE.
