Sussex County!
Here is our chance to draw a line in the sand together!
This may well be our last chance.
US Wind needs zoning approval from our Sussex County Council
for their massive electric substation.
How they are doing it is deceptive, with no public hearing.
The council will hear their application, Tuesday July 30.
What you can do on Tuesday, July 30 between 12 and 1:
Join the rally outside the Sussex County Administrative Office, 2 The Circle, Georgetown. The meeting is open to the public but room is limited.
What you can do NOW:
Contact each Sussex County Council Member to let them hear your voice about this important impact on our future. We ask that the Council at least delay a decision and reopen the Planning & Zoning hearings, as the public notices obscured the fact that this "conditional use" supported US Wind.
Michael Vincent, Council President, District 1, 302- 629-2396 - Click to email
Cynthia Green, District 2, 302-855-7743, Click to email
Mark Schaeffer, District 3, 302-855-7743, Click to email
Douglas Hudson, District 4, 302542-1432, Click to email
John Reily, District 5, Council Vice President, 302-858-8649, Click to email
Stand together to strongly urge our Sussex County Council
to do the right thing to protect its citizens.
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The full story of the deception by US Wind is explained below
by John Toedtman, Executive Director of The Caeser Rodney Institute.
It's a story you need to know!
Sussex County Council Should Deny
US Wind Request for Massive Substation
7/24/2024
John Toedtman, Executive Director
Caesar Rodney Institute
Offshore wind developer US Wind has been quietly, and under the name of one of its subsidiary companies (Renewable Redevelopment, LLC), going through the process of trying to obtain a conditional use to build a massive electric substation. Four large cables from US Wind’s offshore wind project will come ashore under Sussex County beaches, wetlands, and inland bays from its proposed offshore wind turbine project. Sussex County Council is set to consider the application at its 1:00 pm, July 30 meeting. US Wind needs federal and state approval to build the turbines. This conditional use is the only opportunity for Sussex County to weigh in. A conditional use must promote the health, safety, morals, convenience, order, prosperity and welfare of the present and future inhabitants of Sussex County, and the conditional use must be for the general convenience and welfare of the inhabitants of Sussex County.
Due to proceeding under another name, and making no mention in notices of the application’s relationship to the offshore wind project, the public has failed to get adequate legal notice of US Wind’s plans – which have been at least 2 years in the making--or a fair opportunity to be heard on the pending County proceedings. This was deceptive, and resulted in no public input in the rezoning process. In light of this, we urge Sussex County Council to do the right thing and deny the present application—at least until properly noticed proceedings, with opportunities for the public to review the project, can take place.
The project should ultimately be denied on its merits as well. While the present application only seeks a zoning change by the County, the entire project is relevant to the public interest of County residents. U.S. Wind’s proposed turbines will dominate the entire shoreline view leading to lost tourism and lower property values. Noise from construction and operations will harass marine life risking extinction of whales and other endangered species. Turbines interfere with radar risking vessel collisions, Coast Guard operations, and reduced military security. Commercial fishermen will be forced to abandon fishing in lease areas. The consequences of the proposed use to support offshore wind development does not promote the prosperity, or welfare of present or future inhabitants of Sussex County.
Our recent poll of 14,000 property owners within one mile of the beach found 86% oppose visible turbines. This project was based on Maryland Legislation, approved by the Maryland Public Service Commission, is paid for by Maryland electric customers, and lies off Ocean City. Bringing power ashore, and providing suitable substations is Maryland’s problem. Council’s denial should send this back to Maryland to solve.
Let your voice be heard on July 30, 2024 at the Council’s hearing.
Sussex County Council needs to protect its citizens!