CAPE MAY — Representatives from Coast Guard Training Center Cape May will hold an open house tonight (March 11) at 7 p.m. at Cape May City Hall, 643 Washington St., to record public comments on the proposed construction of wind turbines on the base.
The Coast Guard is proposing to construct two, 2-megawatt wind turbines on 328-foot towers at two locations on the base here to provide 66 percent to 70 percent of the base’s energy needs. The wind turbines at the training center would be located at sites designed to minimize environmental impacts.
Copies of a draft environmental assessment are available at the Cape May Public Library, Cape May City Hall and on the Web site: www.uscg.mil/hq/capemay
Rich Ker, energy specialist for TRACEN, said construction could begin in early 2011 or late 2010 with a tentative completion date of fall 2011. Initially a half dozen possible sites were considered for the turbines at TRACEN, he said, with two sites directly on the harbor selected for construction, away from any bird habitat.
The proposal contains a lengthy assessment of the effect the turbines would have on birds written by Paul Kerlinger, a nationally known avian expert who served as director of NJ Audubon’s Cape May Bird Observatory for seven years.
Ker said the study shows “no significant impact” on birds.
For those who can not attend the meeting, comments may be submitted to the Coast Guard through March 16 by emailing Ker at Richard.D.Ker@uscg.mil or by submitting comments in writing to: Mr. Richard Ker, Facilities Energy Section/Admin Bldg., USCG Training Center, One Munro Ave., Cape May, NJ 08204
