New Hampshire is being encouraged to take more action with their involvement in offshore wind as neighboring states are starting to progress further.
N.H. stands alone as the only state in the region without a concrete plan for how much offshore wind power to buy or how to reduce emissions that are causing climate change.
A recent auction was proposed in April by federal officials that would authorize areas in the Gulf of Maine to be leased, potentially resulting in enough turbines to power five million homes. Additionally, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut engaged in a recent multi-state procurement that allowed the states to select projects to put in place.
A press conference on Thursday, September 12, allowed lawmakers and business leaders to speak up, where they claim, “the state needs to take a more active approach,” as N.H. would benefit from both decarbonization effects and the economic growth possibilities. It is clear to me that the state is much farther behind our neighbors on this issue, and needs to become more engaged.
Offshore wind turbines generate electricity through wind farms built in large bodies of water, usually far out in the ocean. They are so far out that they usually can not even be seen or heard from shore. They are extremely beneficial as they can generate this electricity without burning any fuel and are very reliable for continuous energy as wind speeds are higher out at sea.
I think it is favorable for those living in New England as 5 out of 6 states touch the ocean, and the energy from these wind farms can be produced in large quantities.
The state admits they are not proponents of offshore wind, as stated by Ted Diers with New Hampshire’s Department of Environmental Services. There are many steps and precautions that are being taken by the state to ensure they are making the right policy decisions, like the consideration of placement of transmission cables or new workforce development opportunities.
Additionally, the state has taken a “market-based approach” to ensure that the energy available is reliable and cost-effective. Offshore wind is not only crucial to protecting the environment but also creates economic opportunities for the community, such as creating jobs for residents.
I agree that these are important considerations to make, as these projects will most likely be more expensive than those previous because of economic factors like inflation and high interest rates. However, I think that even with these considerations in mind, the state needs to be showing industries that they are on board.
Jim Andrews, president of Granite Shore Power, backs up this idea as he states that progress has been “slow to almost non-existent in this regard.” He shared at the September 12 press conference that Granite Shore Power plans to transform Schiller Station, a Portsmouth plant known for previously burning coal, into a battery storage facility, where the energy stored would be from offshore wind farms.
He believes N.H. is well-suited to take advantage of these potential offshore wind sites, but is worried that the state is not taking aggressive leadership.
Once again, I agree that the state needs to be more assertive as it is shown to be completely viable and prepared for the enhancements and opportunities offshore wind would provide. I believe that if quicker action is not taken soon, these benefits will go to the neighboring states, leaving N.H. in the dark once again.
Jaden Johnson can be contacted at
