R.I. officials screen wind farm proposals

PROVIDENCE—State officials have interviewed some of the seven companies who have submitted proposals to build an offshore wind farm in Rhode Island.

Gov. Don Carcieri’s chief energy adviser said a team of state evaluators completed the interviews earlier this week. Andrew Dzykewicz said a decision should be made by the middle of the month.

Carcieri is looking for a private company to build and finance a wind facility off the coast that would supply 15 percent of the state’s electricity.

He says the state’s plans won’t conflict with new proposed federal rules for granting wind farm leases. The state’s preferred site for a wind farm is in the waters off Block Island, which is partly in state water and partly in federal water.