Nature Conservancy urges Sussex to approve substation

The Nature Conservancy requests that Sussex County Council vote yes on the conditional-use permit filed by Renewable Redevelopment LLC on behalf of US Wind. The variance is vital to bringing offshore wind into the regional power grid and offering Delaware a cleaner energy future. 

There has been a lot of misinformation regarding the impacts of offshore wind on the environment and wildlife. As a global conservation organization with a footprint right here in Delaware, we monitor the latest international offshore wind science, participate in its data collection in other localities, and advocate for science-based mitigation strategies. There is no evidence that offshore wind will cause significant and widespread negative environmental or wildlife impacts.

The true threat to Delaware’s environment is climate change and biodiversity loss. Biodiversity loss – the dying out of species – caused by climate change is a direct threat to their habitats. Offshore wind investments can help reduce the severity of climate change by cutting greenhouse gas emissions, funding vital wildlife data collection and habitat restoration in coastal areas, and even enhancing marine-life habitats through a nature-based design approach.

Delaware’s unique natural environments – the bays, tidal marshes, dunes and freshwater wetlands – are home to rare, threatened or endangered plant and animal life, including the globally recognized horseshoe crab and migrating red knot. To preserve these unique spaces, we must increase the rapid and sustainable development of offshore wind projects that avoid potential impacts to habitat and species through the use of the best data available, mitigation strategies, and engagement with key stakeholders. 

A good first step is Sussex County Council approving the variance to start the clean energy future for Delaware.