August 9, 2018 — As offshore wind companies jockey for position in preparation for Massachusetts’ next round of bidding, Bay State Wind announced an adjustment to its proposal earlier this week.
According to Lauren Burm, the head of public affairs for Bay State Wind, after speaking with “key stakeholders including the fishing community,” the company altered its proposal in terms of spacing between turbines to a nautical mile in rows running east to west..
“Based on their helpful feedback we have adjusted our layout to better accommodate fishing patterns and vessel transiting through the wind farm, while also maintaining efficiency and maximizing power production,” Burm said.
Those within the industry disagree that the adjustment by Bay State Wind, a partnership between Orstead and Eversource, helps fishermen navigate.“There’s no way a mile spacing would result in a safe transit,” New Bedford scalloper Eric Hansen said.
Similar sentiment has been expressed in the past by fishermen.
Hansen said he traveled to Europe, specifically Great Britain, to learn more about the offshore wind farms.
He said the turbines are spaced less than a mile apart, however, the fishing vessels are much smaller, too.
When he spoke to fishermen across the pond, he learned they were wary of navigating between the turbines.