To the Editor:
Thank you for reporting on the settlement between Rhode Island’s fishermen and the developers of Revolution Wind LLC. We support fair and adequate compensation to our fishermen; however, the settled compensation package does not adequately offset the long-term damage to our fishery, destruction of the fishing fleet and the challenge to our economy resulting from the project.
Studies from Europe, where wind farms have existed for decades, prove that wind farms decrease both terrestrial and marine biodiversity. Loss of biodiversity leads to diminished fish stocks and contaminated food webs – both of which pose a substantial threat to both marine and human health. In fact, the World Health Organization states that biodiversity loss threatens human health even more than climate change.
The justification for risking the health of our fishery, our environment and the economy rests on the project’s ability to help Rhode Island meet the required quota for renewable energy. However, it is doubtful that Revolution Wind will positively impact climate change. Revolution Wind’s modest projected net carbon dioxide savings do not support the “compelling need” requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act. In fact, Revolution Wind will only begin to counteract Rhode Island’s carbon dioxide emissions in 2030, and this calculation overestimates any carbon dioxide savings because it does not consider indirect sources of carbon dioxide such as cement production, plankton destruction, increased biofouling of artificial reefs and whale mortality.
David Osborn
Director, Green Oceans, Little Compton