BARNSTABLE – Officials from Vineyard Wind and the Town of Barnstable will be leading a public forum on Tuesday surrounding construction plans for the wind energy company off of Martha’s Vineyard.
The construction plans to be discussed at the forum will cover the turbines that will bring power to shore at Covell’s Beach and connect to the Cape’s electrical grid in Hyannis.
The forum is open to the public, and Vineyard Wind encourages area residents to attend and ask questions.
The proposed $2 billion wind farm planned for federal waters off Martha’s Vineyard has received key approval from Rhode Island regulators.
The Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council in a unanimous vote Tuesday determined that the project is consistent with state policies.
Vineyard Wind plans an 84-turbine, 800-megawatt wind farm about 14 miles south of the Vineyard.
The project was approved despite opposition from commercial fishermen, who say their livelihood is being destroyed because they would effectively be blocked from accessing productive fishing grounds.
But the Fishermen’s Advisory Board, which advises the council on fishing issues, accepted a package from Vineyard Wind that includes the creation of two funds totaling almost $17 million to compensate the fishing industry.
The project still needs approval from Massachusetts regulators.
By TIM DUNN, CapeCod.com News Center
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