BETHANY BEACH, Del. - The Bethany Beach Town Council held a meeting Friday afternoon to discuss and gather public feedback on the pending proposal from US Wind to erect an offshore wind farm in the town's immediate vicinity.
The council initially heard remarks from Mike Dunmyer, Delaware development manager for US Wind, who emphasized the existence of "an incredible amount of misinformation in the public domain" regarding the proposed wind farm.
According to Dunmyer, as many as 114 wind turbines would be installed under the proposal, each reaching between 817 and 938 feet in height. Dunmyer added that the windfarm would provide 1,100 megawatts of clean energy. A power substation would also be located in Dagsboro.
Meanwhile, Bethany locals and other meeting attendees voiced their disapproval of the US Wind project. Chief among their concerns were tourism volatility and a hindrance to scenic beachfront views, which Dunmyer downplayed.
"We are not selling you out," said one councilmember upon facing opposition from an audience member.
When pressed about nighttime light and sunset interference emanating from wind turbines, Dunmyer explained that low-flying aircraft detection technology would allow the turbines' lights to remain turned off for all but six hours per year.
In exchange for the wind farm's installation, US Wind would make annual payments of $100,000 to the town of Bethany Beach s well as neighboring coastal towns. Initial offshore construction in 2027, less than a year before the wind farm would begin to generate power.
For the moment, the town council decided to hold off on voting for the US Wind proposal. A DNREC comment period will soon take place in which further public feedback will be solicited.