Offshore Wind Wire

Gosnold, the smallest town in Massachusetts, has volunteered to host the largest offshore wind turbine development in the state.

Gosnold consists of the Elizabeth Islands, has 86 residents, and is located south of Cape Cod and west of Martha’s Vineyard.  Town officials announced their decision in a letter to state Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Ian Bowles and released that same document to the Martha’s Vineyard Gazette and the Martha’s Vineyard Times.

“If our needs are met, we are willing to have a commercial wind project sited in our town waters,” the town’s Board of Selectmen wrote in the letter.

When state officials visited Gosnold last month, they heard a similar message — albeit informally — about the community’s willingness to host offshore wind turbines.

Offshore wind development in Massachusetts state waters has been the subject of recent controversy — mostly focused around the state’s Ocean Management Plan.  A draft version of the plan, released this summer, identified two areas in state waters that are set aside for large-scale commercial wind farms.  One of those is just south of Martha’s Vineyard.  The other is southwest of the Elizabeth Islands.  According to the draft plan, these two development zones could host up to 166 offshore turbines.  State waters extend three miles from state land.

Bowles recently told Vineyard officials that Martha’s Vineyard Commission planning body will retain jurisdiction over turbines developed south of their island.  Gosnold does not fall within the jurisdiction of the Martha’s Vineyard Commission.  It is unclear whether the waters surrounding the Elizabeth Islands fall under the Commission’s authority.

“The people of the town of Gosnold tend to take the long view” the Gosnold letter read.  “It is difficult to accept such a facility in our community.  But not accepting this burden means not taking responsibility for our lifestyle, which includes the use of electricity.”