Results of wind development discussions at New London presentation
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| URI Photo / D. Bidwell |
David Bidwell, professor of marine affairs at the University of Rhode Island, will share research results on offshore wind community discussions at a free public presentation on Tuesday, May 12, at 6 p.m., at the New London Community Recreation Center, 1 Recreation Way, New London.
Bidwell will lead a presentation hosted by the New London
NAACP to provide area residents with information related to prior research and
community discussions in the area, as well as discuss community priorities and
concerns over offshore wind energy development activities.
At URI, Bidwell’s work focuses on how people interact with
renewable energy technologies, including offshore wind in southern New England.
He began conducting research in New London in 2024.
The one-hour event will report findings from interviews, surveys, and community workshops held last year in New London; New Bedford, Massachusetts; and Turner Station, Maryland. Each of these communities has served as a hub for offshore wind. The study, aided by Boston University and the University of Delaware, aimed to capture community experiences, understand community priorities and concerns, and suggest ways to track the industry’s community impact.
“Many promises and warnings have been made about how this
development will affect communities,” said Bidwell. “Our study sought to
document the hopes and worries of community members, with the goal of raising
awareness and accountability of this new industry.”
The presentation will include an overview of offshore wind
energy development in the Northeast U.S., details on how New London is involved
in the industry, and a summary of study findings. There will also be time for
questions and feedback.
New London NAACP President Jean Jordan said, “This is an
important chance for members of our community to provide feedback. We want this
study to represent everyone’s voice.”
For more information, contact David Bidwell at
dbidwell@uri.edu.