KINGSTON, R.I. – April 13, 2026 – David Bidwell, professor of marine affairs at the University of Rhode Island, will share research results on offshore wind community discussions at a free public presentation on Monday, April 27, at 6 p.m., at the Sollers Point Multipurpose Center, 323 Sollers Point Rd., Dundalk, Maryland.

Bidwell will lead a presentation hosted by the Turner Station Conservation Teams to provide area residents with information related  to prior research and community discussions in the area, as well as discuss community priorities and concerns over offshore wind energy development activities.

At URI, Bidwell’s work focuses on how people interact with renewable energy technologies, including offshore wind in southern New England. He began conducting research at Turner Station in 2024.

The one-hour event will report findings from interviews, surveys, and community workshops held last year in Turner Station, Maryland; New Bedford, Mass.; and New London, Conn. Each of these communities has served as a hub for offshore wind. The study, aided by Boston University and the University of Delaware, aimed to capture community experiences, understand community priorities and concerns, and suggest ways to track the industry’s community impact.

“Many promises and warnings have been made about how this development will affect communities,” said Bidwell. “Our study sought to document the hopes and worries of community members, with the goal of raising awareness and accountability of this new industry.”

The presentation will include an overview of offshore wind energy development in the Northeast U.S., details on how Turner Station is involved in the industry, and a summary of study findings. There will also be time for questions and feedback.

“It’s important that we communicate the whole community’s perspective on these activities,” Turner Station Conservation Teams’ Gloria Nelson said. “This presentation gives us a chance to provide feedback on whether this study gets it right.”

For more information, visit the Turner Station Conservation Teamspage or contact David Bidwell at dbidwell@uri.edu.