As the Biden administration pushes forward with offshore wind farm projects, local officials in Rhode Island have voiced strong objections, accusing federal authorities of disregarding their concerns. According to internal documents reviewed by the Washington Free Beacon, local governments in Rhode Island have criticized the administration for imposing wind farm developments without adequately consulting them.
In a November 2022 letter to the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), officials from New Shoreham and Newport, along with three Rhode Island preservation societies, condemned the federal approach. “We have NEVER seen a more dysfunctional process,” they wrote, highlighting fears that the South Fork Wind project, located less than 20 miles from Block Island, would mar the state’s scenic views and cultural heritage.
The letter, obtained through a freedom of information request by Protect the Public’s Trust, accused the BOEM and the Interior Department of primarily consulting with industry stakeholders while neglecting the input of local communities and Native American tribes. This top-down approach, they argued, undermines the Biden administration’s goal to deploy 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by the decade’s end.
President Biden’s ambitious green energy agenda has faced significant local opposition. The letter cited concerns about the “adverse visual effects” on Block Island’s historic landscape and landmarks like the Southeast Lighthouse. Despite these objections, the administration has pressed ahead, approving projects rapidly, though only the South Fork Wind project has been completed since 2021.
Internal documents show that the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) received similar complaints. Cultural Heritage Partners, representing the concerned Rhode Island entities, urged ACHP to reject the Memorandum of Agreement for the South Fork Wind project, citing insufficient consideration of historic properties and local concerns.
Despite these appeals, the ACHP determined that BOEM had met the necessary preservation requirements but advised BOEM to better assess the impacts of offshore wind development. Internal emails suggest that senior BOEM officials were aware of the criticism but proceeded without increasing consultations with local stakeholders.
Michael Chamberlain, director of Protect the Public’s Trust, criticized the administration’s approach, calling it hypocritical. “Interior Secretary Deb Haaland promised more local and tribal input, but it seems this promise was only valid if the feedback aligned with the administration’s goals,” Chamberlain said.
Even within the Biden administration, there were voices of concern. National Marine Fisheries Service assistant regional administrator Louis Chiarella criticized BOEM’s approval process for another project, Vineyard Wind, citing unreasonable timelines and inadequate incorporation of feedback.
This ongoing conflict underscores the tension between the Biden administration’s environmental ambitions and the local communities affected by these large-scale projects. The criticism highlights the need for a more inclusive and considerate approach to green energy development.
