Newport City Councilor David R. Carlin III plans to introduce a resolution at the Sept. 11 council meeting calling for a public forum on offshore wind development that would give opponents a chance to voice their concerns.
The move comes after the Newport Energy and Environment Commission held a series of panel discussions on climate change and resilience this summer, including an Aug. 15 forum on offshore wind that some felt lacked balance.
Carlin’s resolution states that requests from wind farm opponents to participate as panelists at the August meeting were denied. It instructs the city manager to arrange a public meeting that would “afford the opportunity to opponents of offshore wind development to participate in a manner that said opponents previously requested.”
The councilor argues the additional forum is needed to ensure fairness and transparency.
“We must allow both sides of this debate to be heard,” Carlin said. “We must allow a fair and equal treatment for those who oppose wind farms, like I do, to have their fair share.”
However, this is not Carlin’s first attempt to secure such a meeting. On Aug. 28, the council rejected a similar resolution in a 5-1 vote, with Carlin as the lone supporter.
Newport City Council rejects resolution requiring an additional wind farm forum
Several councilors expressed concerns about wading into what they view as a state and federal issue outside the city’s jurisdiction.
“I don’t think this is something we should be touching,” Councilor Holder said at the August meeting. “There are plenty of opportunities for anyone who’s pro or anti wind farms or anything else for that matter.”
Councilor Lima defended the Energy and Environment Commission’s handling of the summer forum series, saying it achieved a balanced presentation of viewpoints across multiple events.
“Our Energies and Environments Commission actually did achieve that,” Lima said. “And I just want to sort of walk us through the history.”
Lima detailed three panel discussions held by the commission between July and August covering climate change, fisheries impacts, and offshore wind development.
Emily Conklin, vice chair of the Energy and Environment Commission, addressed claims of bias at the August council meeting.
“Our intention was to be educational and informative,” Conklin said. “We understand that some folks are very passionate about these topics and also that some folks are dissatisfied with how we ran the events.”
The commission’s Aug. 15 forum on offshore wind featured panelists from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, Ironworkers Local 37, and Climate Action Rhode Island. However, the meeting was disrupted during the public question-and-answer portion, with some wind farm opponents attempting to dominate the discussion.
This incident appears to have sparked concerns about the balance of viewpoints presented at such forums, leading to Carlin’s proposed resolutions.
The Energy and Environment Commission was created by and appointed by the Newport City Council. Its mission, according to the city’s website, is “to advise the Council and educate the public on energy efficiency, renewable energy, and the environment, to foster a more sustainable community.”
On May 22, the council unanimously passed a resolution updating the commission’s mission to include educating Newport citizens on all matters related to energy and the environment.
The summer education series “Climate Change & Resilience on Aquidneck Island” included other discussions, such as “Climate Change & Aquidneck Island” on July 23 and “The Effect of Climate Change & Offshore Wind on Fisheries & Ocean Ecosystems” on Aug. 8.
Despite the previous rejection, Carlin remains committed to securing what he sees as a more balanced public forum on offshore wind development. The outcome of his latest resolution attempt remains to be seen at the upcoming council meeting.
