FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - July 21, 2010

For further information, contact:
Heather McElroy, Natural Resources Specialist
Cape Cod Commission
(508) 362-3828
www.capecodcommission.org

BARNSTABLE COUNTY, MA -- On behalf of Barnstable County, the Cape Cod Commission will convene a "Policy Committee" for the county-designated Ocean Management Planning District of Critical Planning Concern (Ocean DCPC) on Thursday, July 29, 2010, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Harwich Community Center. Although not a public hearing, the meeting will be open to the public to attend. The Policy Committee will oversee a planning process to address development potential in the state's jurisdictional ocean waters surrounding Cape Cod.

In April, Barnstable County designated the Ocean Management Planning DCPC by ordinance. The purpose of the district is to establish criteria for determining the appropriate scale of renewable energy projects within the waters around Cape Cod and for establishing procedures and regulations for the review of allowable development in the ocean. The DCPC responds to a charge within the Ocean Management Plan (OMP) released by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in January. The OMP sets forth uses and activities allowed within the state's jurisdictional waters and establishes performance standards for siting and permitting those uses. The plan charged the state's regional planning agencies, such as Barnstable County's Cape Cod Commission, with determining the appropriate scale of renewable energy projects, and with reviewing wind turbines proposed within the OMP planning area.

To ensure that each of the Cape's 15 towns are represented and participate in this important regional planning task, the Cape Cod Commission has established a Policy Committee to oversee the year-long process. The Policy Committee's task ultimately will be to make recommendations to the Cape Cod Commission about the placement and regulation of wind turbines and other renewable energy facilities, and other allowed uses in the state's waters. At the first meeting, the Policy Committee will discuss and possibly adopt a set of guiding principles on which their work for the planning process will focus. The committee will also help define the work program for a technical advisory group.

Information about the Ocean DCPC and this planning process is maintained on the web site: www.capecodcommission.org/oceanplanning

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