Sussex County Council should promptly and unconditionally approve US Wind's application for a conditional-use permit to build an electric power substation in Dagsboro. The planned substation will be located on land the company already owns and will be located next to the existing Indian River power plant substation.
The site is in full compliance with the requirements of the Sussex County comprehensive plan. It would also be fully compatible with the zoning designation, HI-1, which specifically encourages the reuse of industrial sites and the development of renewable energy. In fact, when the planning & zoning commission considered this permit application July 10, it unanimously recommended that county council approve it. Buffered from wetlands by 50 feet of trees, it would be 1,700 feet from the nearest residence.
The approval of the substation would result in substantial benefits for the county: First, US Wind is taking it upon itself – with no financial help from the county or state – to invest $200 million in order to strengthen and upgrade the Delaware electric grid. Second, designing, building and operating the substation will create a significant number of jobs for Delawareans. Third, US Wind has committed to contributing 150,000 renewable energy certificates worth $76 million over 20 years to Delaware. These are huge benefits for our state that should not be foregone.
As a resident of Lewes, an environmental lawyer and active volunteer for several statewide organizations, I urge county council to expeditiously approve the conditional-use permit for the electric power substation.
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