April 16, 2020 — A fishing industry group wants New Hampshire and neighboring states to put off planning offshore wind development during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Responsible Offshore Development Alliance, or RODA, sent a letter to the governors of Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts on Tuesday. The group represents the fishing industry in states with offshore wind development.
Among RODA’s requests is a six-month halt on the federal planning process for putting wind turbines in the Gulf of Maine. Their letter raises concerns that efforts to fight COVID-19 will limit the public’s ability to weigh in on the process – especially for fishermen.
“The fishing industry has been hit especially hard by the pandemic,” RODA says in a statement, “forcing the commercial fishing sector to divert time and effort to addressing the current crisis, and leaving insufficient opportunities for engagement in offshore wind siting and other planning.”