Interested in Wind Energy's Future? Come on Down

Anyone with an interest in land-based wind energy and establishing the science that will guide renewable energy’s future in Rhode Island is invited to a meeting this evening, Sept. 15, at the University of Rhode Island.

The Renewable Energy Siting Partnership stakeholder meeting takes place from 6 to 9 p.m. in the Hazard rooms at the URI Coastal Institute building, 215 South Ferry Rd, Narragansett, RI, 02882, on the Narragansett Bay Campus.

According to the Rhode Island Sea Grant organization, which is leading the partnership, the RESP stakeholder process will provide a forum to engage key constituencies and interested citizens.

“The stakeholder group members will be able to voice their concerns and issues, provide thoughtful input, and learn about renewable energy research in Rhode Island. They will also have opportunities to preview tools the RESP project is developing to assist in the analysis of land-based wind, water and solar energy issues,” according to the partnership Web site.

Teresa Crean, a Sea Grant coastal management extension specialist, said that the state Office of Energy Resources asked URI to gather “the best available science” on land-based renewable energy and its impact and share it with everyone who has a stake: residents, government officials, developers, educators and scientists. “That way everyone will using the same information” when it comes to making decisions, Crean said.

“We are not advocates for renewable energy,” she explained. “We have been asked to serve as neutral facilitators.”

Once the stakeholders are identified, Sea Grant expects to establish working groups of some subsets, such as municipal officials or developers.

Sea Grant played a similar role in creating the Rhode Island Special Area Management Plan that will help guide efforts to develop .

Click here for directions to tonight’s RESP meeting. The organizers will provide a light dinner for anyone who arrives at 5:30 p.m.