"Direct Connection" is made by MPT to serve all of Our diverse communities And is made possible by the Generous support of our members.

Thank you.

Live from Maryland public Television, this is "Direct Connection" with Jeff Salkin.

[*] >> Jeff: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO YOUR "DIRECT CONNECTION" COMING UP TONIGHT THE C.E.O.

OF THE COMPANY THAT IS BUILDING THE SO SCHENN CITY WIND FARM.

THAT IS AHEAD.

FIRST TONIGHT ONE OF THE NATION'S LARGEST POLICE DEPARTMENTS HAS A NEW LEADER JOINING US TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS IS ROBERT McCULLOUGH, CHIEF OF THE BALTIMORE COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT.

SIR, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> HI, JEFF HOW ARE YOU DOING?

>> Jeff: THIS IS THE 21ST LARGEST POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THE COUNTRY.

IT IS A BIG FORCE.

YOU COVER A LOT OF GROUND.

>> YES, SIR.

BALTIMORE COUNTY IS APPROXIMATELY 612 SQUARE MILES.

>> Jeff: AND A VARIETY I MEAN YOU HAVE WRAP AROUND BALTIMORE CITY.

YOU HAVE DENSELY POPULATED AREAS, SOME RURAL AREAS.

WHAT ARE THE OVERFER OVERALL TRENDS YOU ZOO IN THE UTILIZATION OF POLICE RESOURCES AND CRIME TRENDS IN THE COUNTY?

>> OF COURSE WE TEND TO BE BUSY BECAUSE WE HAVE A DIVERSE POPULATION IN BALTIMORE COUNTY.

SOME OF THE CRIMES WE'RE SEEING ON THE INCREASE ARE AUTO THEFT WE ARE DEALING WITH ISSUES INVOLVING THE THEFT OF KIAS AND HYUNDAIS AND WE HAVE BEEN ACTIVELY HANDING OUT ANTITHEFT DEVICES AND WE HAVE ABOUT PRO-ACTIVELY POLICING THE PROBLEM WITH OUR REGIONAL AUTO TASK FORCE AND OUR OTHER PATROL RESOURCES.

>> Jeff: YOUR BACKGROUND, YOU WERE ON THE FORCE FOR 35 YEARS.

YOU STARTED AS AN 18-YEAR-OLD CADET AND YOU RETIRED.

AND YOU WERE PULLED OUT OF YOUR HAPPY RETIREMENT TO SERVE AS CHIEF.

WHAT BROUGHT YOU BACK?

>> WELL, I THINK THE OPPORTUNITY FIRST OF ALL TO BE CHIEF.

WHEN YOU RISE UP THROUGH THE RANKS FROM A CADET TO COLONEL, I GUESS THE NATURAL NEXT PROGRESSION IS TO THE RANK OF CHIEF AND I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME CHIEF.

SO THAT EXCITED ME.

ONE OF THE THINGS I ALWAYS TELL ME IS THAT WHEN YOU ARE LIVING IN YOUR PURPOSE YOU KNOW IT AND THE THING ABOUT RETIREMENT IT WAS FUN PROBABLY FOR THE FIRST 12 MONTHS.

BUT I QUICKLY LEARNED I WAS NO LODGER LIVING IN MY PURPOSE AND I MISSED LAW ENFORCEMENT, I MISSED THE WORK, I MISSED THE PEOPLE, I MISSED THE COMMUNITY AND EVERYTHING THAT IS POLICING.

>> Jeff: WHAT IS YOUR PURPOSE GOING TO BE IN YOUR TIME AS CHIEF?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, TO PROVIDE GOOD AND ETHICAL LEADERSHIP TO PROVIDE THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE DEPARTMENT THE PROPER ENVIRONMENT TO FUNCTION AND TO SERVE THE CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTY DURING THE TIMES WE LIVE IN.

I THINK THAT I'M THE RIGHT PERSON AT THE RIGHT TIME.

I THINK I UNDERSTAND THE TIMES WE'RE LIVING IN.

I UNDERSTAND THE DIRECTION OUR SOCIETY IS GOING IN.

AND I THINK I CAN BE A GUIDING FORCE A GUIDING VOICE IN LEADERSHIP INSIDE THE AGENCY AND ALSO IN THE COMMUNITY AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE TREATING THE COMMUNITY WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT AND ALSO DEALING WITH THE CRIME ISSUES AND THE OTHER COMMUNITY ISSUES THAT CHALLENGE US.

>> Jeff: YOU ARE THE FIRST BLACK CHIEF FOR THE DEPARTMENT AND IT IS A DEPARTMENT WHERE BLACK OFFICERS ARE UNDERREPRESENTED WHEN YOU COMPARE THE NUMBERS WITH THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU SERVE.

YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE MILESTONE AND HOW YOU CAN IMPROVE MINORITY REPRESENTATION ON THE FORCE?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL I NEVER SET OUT TO BE A PART OF HISTORY.

I'VE BEEN A PART OF THE AGENCY FOR ALMOST 36 YEARS OF MY LIFE.

AND I SEE MYSELF NOTHING MORE THAN A MEMBER.

BUT I UNDERSTAND AND I RESPECT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF IT ALL AND REALIZE THAT I AM A ROLE MODEL TO BOTH THE MINORITY OFFICERS IN THE AGENCY AND THE NONMINORITY OFFICERS IN THE AGENCY.

BUT I ALSO LIKE TO BELIEVE THAT FIRST AND FOREMOST I AM A ROLE MODEL TO YOUNG PEOPLE, TO OUR KIDS THAT ARE IN SCHOOL THAT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE GOING TO COLLEGE AND OTHERS IN OUR COMMUNITY MIGHT WANT TO BE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.

AND I HOPE THAT THEY CAN LOOK TO ME AND SEE THAT I HAD A SUCCESSFUL CAREER.

AND I WANT THEM TO BELIEVE THAT THEY CAN HAVE A SUCCESSFUL CAREER WITH US ALSO.

>> Jeff: LET ME REMIND OUR VIEWERS IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE CHIEF GIVE US A CALL WE WILL HAVE THE NUMBER ON THE SCREEN AND YOU CAN E-MAIL THE QUESTIONS TO LIVE QUESTIONS AT MPT.ORG.

WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGING TO OFFICERS PARTICULARLY YOUNG OFFICERS?

WE ARE IN A TIME WHERE YOUR NEIGHBORING POLICE DEPARTMENT IN BALTIMORE CITY IS UNDER COURT SUPERVISION THERE HAVE BEEN BRUTALITY CASES, CORRUPTION CASES.

DOES ANY OF THE DISTRUST OF THAT FORCE BLEED OVER INTO YOUR COUNTY AND THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT YOUR OFFICERS ARE TRYING TO BUILD WITH THE COMMUNITY?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I REMIND MY OFFICERS THAT WE HAVE A TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE IN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THAT WE HAVE AN OUTSTANDING LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY.

AND I REMIND THEM THAT EVERYDAY THEY HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO GO OUT AND DO THEIR VERY BEST TO SERVE THE CITIZENS OF BALTIMORE COUNTY.

WE CONCERN OURSELVES WITH BEING AN ETHICAL AGENCY AND OUR OFFICERS UNDERSTAND WE ARE LIVING IN A PERIOD WHERE THERE'S POLICE REFORM, THERE'S CONCEPTS LIKE REIMAGINING POLICING.

BUT I SEND THE MESSAGE THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE A BALANCED ORGANIZATION.

THAT WE'RE GOING TO ENFORCE THE LAWS.

BUT WHILE WE'RE ENFORCING THE LAWS WE'RE ALSO GOING TO TREAT OUR CITIZENS WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT.

AND I ALWAYS REMIND THEM THAT WE WERE ONE OF THE ORIGINAL COMMUNITY POLICING ORGANIZATIONS IN THE COUNTRY.

AND THAT STARTED IN THE LATE 70s EARLY 80s UNDER THE CHIEF AND WE'VE CONTINUED THAT FINE TRADITION.

AND IT'S MY GOAL TO BUILD UPON THAT AND TO BRING US BACK TO THAT FINE TRADITION OF BEING A PRO-ACTIVE COMMUNITY POLICING ORGANIZATION.

>> Jeff: I WANT TO TALK MORE ABOUT COMMUNITY POLICING LET'S TAKE A PHONE CALL THIS IS RICHARD IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

THANK YOU FOR CALLING.

GO AHEAD.

>> I'M RICHARD FROM ROCKVILLE.

I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN SOME POLICE ACTIVITIES I WAS CHAIRMAN OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

I AM OPPOSED TO DEFUNDING THE POLICE.

I DON'T THINK THAT WORKS.

BUT HOW DO YOU GET A BETTER QUALITY OF POLICE OFFICER?

I HAVE SEEN AND AS A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER I'VE SEEN GUYS GO INTO THE POLICE FORCE AND THEY REALLY DON'T BELONG THERE.

AND ALSO, YOU GET THESE LOW RANKING EXMILITARY MEN WHO GO INTO THE POLICE FORCE AND POLICE OFFICERS -- >> Jeff: RICHARD I APPRECIATE THE PHONE CALL, INTERESTING LINE OF QUESTIONING.

YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT, QUALITY OF THE RECRUITS YOU ARE SEEING AND HOW YOU CAN BUILD ON IT.

>> FIRST OF ALL, I SPENT SEVERAL YEARS WORKING AS THE COMMANDER OF OUR EMPLOYMENT SECTION.

AND I THINK IT'S ALL ABOUT THE PROCESS IN TERMS OF HIRING.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE AN EXCELLENT RECRUITMENT, HIRING AND RETENTION PROGRAM.

YOU HAVE TO SCREEN YOUR EMPLOYEES CAREFULLY.

ALL AGENCIES DON'T SCREEN THEIR EMPLOYEES THE SAME.

IN BALTIMORE COUNTY WE DO A AUTHORIZE REJOB OF SCREENING OUR APPLICANTS AND TRY TO IDENTIFY THE BEST UP FRONT RIGHT AWAY.

AND I WOULD ALWAYS IMMEDIATELY ASSIGN A BACKGROUND INVESTIGATOR TO TOES EMPLOYEES EARLY IN THE PROCESS SO WE COULD WEED OUT THE ONES WE DIDN'T WANT IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY TRY TO ENCOURAGE THE OUTSTANDING ONES TO COME TO BALTIMORE COUNTY BECAUSE WE ARE COMPETING AGAINST OTHER AGENCIES.

ONCE YOU GET AN EMPLOYEE IN THE DOOR, IT'S ALL ABOUT TRAINING AND EDUCATION.

YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE THEM THE BEST LEVEL OF TRAINING AND EDUCATION.

AND YOU ALSO HAVE TO PROVIDE THEM EXCEPTIONAL SUPERVISION.

I ALWAYS TELL OUR SUPERVISORS THAT CORPORALS AND SERGEANTS ARE TEACHERS.

I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT IF ONE CANNOT TEACH ONE CANNOT SUPERVISE.

BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHEN PEOPLE COME TO THE STREET WHEN THEY GO OUT ON THE STREET AS BASIC PATROLMEN THEY HAVE A BASIC UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR FUNCTION AND THEIR JOB.

THE PEOPLE WHO TEACH THEM ARE THE OFFICERS THAT WORK NEXT TO THEM AND THE SUPERVISORS THAT SUPERVISE THEM DAILY.

>> Jeff: YOU MENTIONED COMMUNITY POLICING IN BALTIMORE COUNTY, WHEN YOU ARE TALKING TO YOUNG OFFICERS IS THE JOB AND IT'S HARD WORK AND IF THEY ARE VISUALIZING THIS IS A LARGELY SUBURBAN AREA I WILL BE DRIVING AROUND IN A POLICE CAR AND EATING DOUGHNUTS THAT IS NOT WHAT YOU HAVE IN MIND?

>> NO.

DOUGHNUTS ARE NOT GOOD FOR THE WAISTLINE.

>> Jeff: TELL ME ABOUT IT.

>> BALTIMORE COUNTY IS A VERY DIVERSE COMMUNITY.

AND IT IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO LIVE, WORK, PLAY AND TO DO BUSINESS.

SO WHAT WE DO IS WE TRY TO TEACH THEM GOOD, BASIC PATROL METHODS.

WHEN THEY COME OUT ON TO THE ROAD ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THEY ARE TAUGHT IS IT TO CHECK THEIR POST.

TO DRIVE AROUND THEIR COMMUNITY AND GET A BASIC FUNDAMENTAL UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE THEY ARE WORKING ON A DAILY BASIS.

BUT ON A DAILY BASIS WHEN THEY ARE COMING OUT THERE IS NO WAY TO KNOW THE WAY THINGS ARE OR WHAT THE STATUS OF THE COMMUNITY IS WHEN YOU FIRST COME TO WORK IF YOU DON'T CHECK IT.

YOU DON'T KNOW IF IF CERTAIN BUSINESSES ARE OPENED OR CLOSED OR SOMEBODY THAT NEEDED ASSISTANCE OR MIGHT HAVE BEEN LAYING ON A SIDEWALK WHEN YOU COME TO WORK IF YOU DON'T CHECK YOUR POST WHEN YOU FIRST COME OUT.

>> Jeff: THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY IN POLICING.

DO YOUR OFFICERS HAVE BODY-CAMERAS?

>> YES,.

>> Jeff: THOUGHTS HOW THAT IS WORKING OUT?

>> I THINK THE BODY WORN CAMERAS HAVE BEEN A VERY POSITIVE ADDITION TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE BODY WORN CAMERAS, THEY DON'T ALWAYS CAPTURE THE ENTIRE PICTURE AND DON'T TELL A COMPLETE STORY.

BUT THEY GIVE OUR COMMUNITY, THEY GIVE OUR CITIZENS A VIEW INTO OUR WORLD.

IT ADDS FOR MORE TRANSPARENCY AND MORE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE OFFICERS BUT IT ALSO HELPS THE OFFICERS BECAUSE IT ALSO CAPTURES AND TELLS AT LEAST A PART OF THE STORY OF THEIR ENCOUNTERS ON A DAILY BASIS.

>> Jeff: WHAT IS HAPPENING IN TOWSON?

I READ IT'S BECOME A HOTSPOT WHAT IS THE SITUATION THERE AND WHAT IS YOUR APPROACH TO IT?

>> WE'VE HAD SITUATIONS WITH PROBLEMS OF CROWDS AND CRIME AND WE HAVE HAD A HOMICIDE THERE.

YOU KNOW CRIME KNOWS NO BOUNDARIES CRIME FINDS ITS WAY EVERYWHERE.

TOWSON IS NOT AN EXCEPTION TO ANY OTHER COMMUNITY IN OUR COUNTY.

WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED SOME TECHNOLOGY, SOME PROGRAMS.

WE'VE ADDED ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO THAT AREA TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES.

AND I'M CONFIDENT THAT THE CRIME PLAN THAT WE'VE PUT IN PLACE TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES WILL TAKE US THROUGH THE SUMMER AND WE'VE ADDED SOME ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND ADDITIONAL PLANNING AS THE WEATHER HAS GOTTEN WARMER TO INSURE THAT.

>> Jeff: CHIEF, VIEWER E-MAIL.

HOW CAN COUNTY CITIZENS ASSIST YOU IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN MEETING YOUR GOALS?

AND I WANT TO BROADEN THAT OUT A LITTLE BIT.

WE'VE HAD THESE INCREDIBLE MASS CASUALTY SHOOTINGS HORRIBLE INCIDENTS AROUND THE COUNTRY.

AND EVERY TIME IN RHETT THROW SPECIFIC IT OWE HE 0 RETROSPECIFIC IT LOOKS LIKE SOMEBODY SHOULD HAVE KNOWN SOMETHING WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.

AND HOW CAN THE PUBLIC HELP YOU AND YOUR OFFICERS?

>> WE CONSIDER OUR CITIZENS AND THE PUBLIC OUR PARTNERS IN FIGHTING CRIME.

WE CAN'T DO IT BY OURSELVES.

AND A BEAUTIFUL THING ABOUT BALTIMORE COUNTY, OUR CITIZENS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ENGAGED WITH OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND WORKED AS PARTNERS WITH US.

WE ASK THEM TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH US.

AND BEING A FORMER HOMELAND SECURITY COMMANDER IN BALTIMORE COUNTY, THERE'S ALWAYS THAT SAYING IF YOU SEE SOMETHING SAY SOMETHING.

AND THE THING IS IF YOU SEE SOMETHING OUT OF PLACE OR YOU SEE SOMETHING THAT MIGHT NOT BE RIGHT, JUST CALL 911, CALL THE POLICE, WE WILL BE GLAD TO RESPOND OUT TO CHECK IT OUT.

>> Jeff: HOW ARE STAFFING LEVELS?

WE KNOW THE BALTIMORE CITY FORCE IS THE COMMISSIONER SAYS HUNDREDS OF OFFICERS SHORT STRUGGLING TO RECRUIT.

HOW ARE YOU COMPARED TO WHERE YOU WANT TO BE?

>> AS OF LAST FRIDAY WE WERE ABOUT DOWN ABOUT 224 OFFICERS.

WHICH IS QUITE A BIT.

WE HAVE NOT SEEN THESE LEVELS SINCE THE MID-1990s.

WE'RE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW, WE USED TO RUN TWO ACADEMY CLASSES WE ARE RUNNING FOUR ACADEMY CLASSES TO TRY TO GET BACK UP TO STAFFING LEVELS THAT WE PREVIOUSLY HAD.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE DOING IN OUR NUMBER ONE RECRUITERS IN OUR DEPARTMENT ARE PEOPLE THAT ALREADY WORK THERE.

I'M TRYING TO ENCOURAGE OUR EMPLOYEES TO MAKE SURE I'M TELLING EVERYBODY EVERYONE GRAB ONE RECRUIT.

>> Jeff: WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME: CONGRATULATIONS ON THE POSITION.

NOW MARYLAND IS MAKING A HUGE BET ON WIND POWER.

WE SPOKE WITH U.S. WIND'S C.E.O.

JEFJEFF GRYBOWSKI.

WHAT MAKES MARYLAND ATTRACTIVE FROM A WIND ENERGY STANDPOINT?

>> THAT IS EASY.

WE HAVE THE GREAT BENEFIT OF THE ATLANTIC COASTLINE THAT IS VERY, VERY CLOSE TO JUST AN ENORMUS OFFSHORE WIND RESOURCE.

WHICH IS A FANCY WAY OF SAYING THE WIND BLOWS REALLY STRONG AND IT BLOWS FREQUENTLY IT IS A GREAT PLACE TO BUILD A WIND FARM.

>> Jeff: AND YOU SEE PEOPLE FLYING KITES AT THE BEACH ALL THE TIME?

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

THERE ARE A LOT OF SAILORS IN MARYLAND.

PEOPLE ENJOY GETTING THEIR BOATS ON TO THE WATER AND WE HAVE A GREAT COASTLINE THAT IS WINDY THAT IS QUITE CLOSE TO BIG POPULATION CENTERS LIKE BALTIMORE.

SO IT IS A PERFECT PLACE TO BUILD A BIG ENERGY FACILITY.

>> Jeff: SO WHAT IS YOUR TIMELINE FOR GETTING THE CONSTRUCTION GOING?

WHEN COULD THE EARLIEST OPERATIONS BEGIN?

>> THE EARLIEST COMPANY LATE 2025 OR EARLY 2026.

THIS IS A DEVELOPMENT THAT WILL BUILD OUT OVER IN STAGES OVER TIME.

EACH STAGE WILL TAKE SEVERAL YEARS OF CONSTRUCTION WITH OUR FINAL STAGE PROBABLY COMING ON-LINE IN 2028 OR 29.

WE'VE GOT QUITE A NUMBER OF YEARS OF CONSTRUCTION AHEAD OF US WITH THE EARLIEST POWER AROUND THE END OF 2025.

>> Jeff: WHAT IS BEING DONE IN BALTIMORE AT THE OLD SPARROW'S POINT IT USED TO HAVE BETHLEHEM STEEL YOU WILL BE DOING ASSEMBLY WORK THERE?

>> THAT IS A REALLY EXCITING PART OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.

WE HAVE AT U.S. WIND A CONTROL OF ABOUT 100 ACRES ON THE WATERFRONT AT THE SITE OF THE FORMER BETHLEHEM SHIPYARD ADJACENT TO THE BETHLEHEM STEEL MILL WHICH IS ONCE HOME TO THE LARGEST STEEL MILL IN THE WORLD.

WE ARE GOING TO BRING STEEL BUSINESS BACK TO THAT SITE.

IT'S BEEN QUITE A NUMBER OF DECADES BEFORE STEEL RELATED INDUSTRIES HAPPENED THERE.

AND OUR CONCEPT IS THAT WE WILL BUILD SOME OF THE STEEL STRUCTURES THAT ARE NECESSARY TO FIX THESE WIND TURBINES TO THE OCEAN FLOOR AND OUR HOPE WE'LL DO IT NOT ONLY FOR OUR PROJECT BUT OTHER OFFSHORE WIND FARMS IN THE U.S. >> Jeff: WE KNOW THE LEADERS IN OCEAN CITY MARYLAND ARE A BIT CONCERNED ABOUT VISUAL POLLUTION.

THE IDEA THE VIEW FROM THE BEACH ONCE THE WIND FARM IS CONSTRUCTED WILL NEVER QUITE BE THE SAME.

THE LOCAL RUMOR IS THAT ALL THE ELECTRICITY IS GOING TO GO TO NEW JERSEY ANYWAY.

HOW DO YOU ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS?

>> WELL, ALL THE ENERGY IS GOING TO END UP ON THE DELMARVA PENINSULA.

THE FOLKS IN OCEAN CITY WILL BE GETTING THAT POWER BEFORE ANYONE ELSE WILL.

SO THAT'S A BIT OF A MISUNDERSTANDING PERHAPS.

BUT I THINK FROM ABOUT THE CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT THESE PROJECTS WILL LOOK LIKE, YOU'VE GOT TO REMEMBER THEY ARE LOCATED MANY MILES OFFSHORE.

12 TO UP TO 25 MILES OFFSHORE OFF THE COAST OF MARYLAND.

AND AT THAT DISTANCE A LARGE WIND TURBINE LOOKS QUITE SMALL ON THE HORIZON.

AND I THINK AT THAT TIME WHAT WE'VE SEEN WHEN OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE BUILT OFFSHORE WIND FARMS IS THAT ONCE THE PROJECTS ARE BUILT PEOPLE FORGET THEY ARE THERE.

THEY BECOME MUCH LESS OF AN ISSUE ONCE THEY ARE BUILT.

I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THOSE SITUATIONS WHERE THE IDEA IS MAYBE MORE CONCERNING TO SOME PEOPLE THAN THE REALITY IS.

ON THE OTHER HAND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WANT TO LOOK AT WIND TURBINES AND THINK THEY ARE REALLY COOL.

FOR THOSE FOLKS THEY CAN GET ON A BOAT AND SEE THE WIND FARM.

>> Jeff: HOW ABOUT THE OTHER CONCERN YOU HEAR ABOUT THE IMPACT ON MARINE LIFE?

THERE HAVE BEEN WHALE STRANDINGS AND DOLPHINS WASHING UP ALONG THE ATLANTIC COAST THAT EITHER THE CONSTRUCTION OR THE OPERATION IS GOING TO ADVERSELY IMPACT THESE CREATURES?

>> WELL, WE OBVIOUSLY DON'T THINK THAT IS TRUE.

AND NEITHER DICE DOES THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WHO ULTIMATELY A VARIETY OF FEDERAL AGENCIES WILL HAVE TO APPROVE ANY OF OUR PLANS FOR CONSTRUCTION.

YOU KNOW, THERE CERTAINLY HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF WHALE DEATHS AND OTHER MARINE MAMMAL DEATHS BUT THERE'S NO OFFSHORE WIND OUT THERE NOW.

BLAMING IT ON OFFSHORE WIND WOULD BE A CURIOUS TAKE ON IT.

WE ARE IN EXTRAORDINARILY HIGHLY REGULATED INDUSTRY AS YOU CAN IMAGINE WHEN YOU ARE BUILDING SOMETHING IN THE OCEAN.

WE HAVE TO BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT WE DO AND WE'RE VERY, VERY PROTECTIVE OF THE ENVIRONMENT THAT WE WORK IN.

AND WE'RE VERY CONFIDENT THAT OFFSHORE WIND FARM WILL BE BUILT IN A WAY THAT WILL BE PROTECTIVE OF MARINE LIFE.

>> Jeff: ALL RIGHT.

SO WE'VE ESTABLISHED THAT IT IS FREQUENTLY WINDY AT THE BEACH.

HOW OFTEN DO YOU GET MAYBE ONE OF THE AUGUST DAYS WHERE THE WINDS JUST NOT DOING ANYTHING AND WHAT IS THE IMPACT ON PRODUCTION?

IN OTHER WORDS WHAT IS THE RANGE OF WIND SPEEDS THAT YOU NEED FOR THESE THINGS TO BE EFFICIENT?

>> YES, YOU'RE RIGHT.

THERE ARE A COUPLE DAYS A YEAR AND WE ALL KNOW ABOUT THEM.

THE DOG DAYS OF THE SUMMER WHEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY THERE'S NOT A LOT OF WIND.

BUT THERE IS THIS INTERESTING PHENOMENON CALLED THE SEA BREEZE EFFECT WHICH HAS TO DO WITH THE DIFFERENCE OF TEMPERATURES ON THE SHORE AND ON THE OCEAN.

WHICH CAUSES PRETTY MUCH EVERYDAY OF THE YEAR THIS WIND NEAR THE COAST.

WHERE THE WIND IS BLOWING FROM THE OCEAN ON TO THE SHORELINE.

WHY PEOPLE GOING TO THE BEACH IN THE LATE AFTERNOON WILL NOTICE A SEA BREEZE.

A SEA BREEZE EFFECT IS A WELL-KNOWN PHENOMENON.

WE BENEFIT FROM THAT SORT OF THING.

WE ALSO BENEFIT FROM COASTAL STORMS THAT COME UP THE COAST THAT WE ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH.

MOST ALMOST ALL DAYS OF THE YEAR WE WILL BE PRODUCING POWER.

THERE ARE A HANDFUL OF DAYS WHERE IT MIGHT BE VERY LOW.

BECAUSE WE DON'T NEED A LOT OF WIND.

REMEMBER THESE PROJECTS ARE MILES OFFSHORE AND THEY ARE HIGH IN THE AIR.

SO WE NEED WIND OF ABOUT 6 OR SEVEN-MILES-PER-HOUR FOR THOSE TURBINES TO START PRODUCING SOME POWER.

AND WE CAN PRODUCE POWER UP TO 60-MILE-PER-HOUR WINDS.

THERE IS A HUGE RANGE OF WIND SPEEDS THAT WE OPERATE UNDER.

>> Jeff: IT DOESN'T GET ABOVE 60 BUT I'VE BEEN THERE FOR NOR'EASTERS OR TROPICAL STORMS OR MINOR HURRICANES.

WHAT HAPPENS THEN?

AND YOU'RE ANCHORING THESE THINGS TELL ME ABOUT THE TECHNICAL SIDE YOU ARE ANCHORING IN SAND TO SOME DEGREE AND THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT AND DEAL WITH STORMS AND JUST DEAL WITH THE CORROSIVE EFFECT OF ALL THE SALTWATER?

>> YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.

SO YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT THESE TURBINES HAVE TO BE ANCHORED VERY FIRMLY INTO THE SEA BED.

SO AT THE VERY BOTTOM OF THE OCEAN, WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE ARE INSTALLING A LARGE PILE.

SO IT IS A BIG STEEL TUBE.

IT'S 30-40 FEET IN DIAMETER OF STEEL THAT IS SEVERAL INCHES THICK.

AND THAT STEEL IS HAMMERED INTO THE SEA BED AND THAT TUBE IS HAMMERED 150-250 FEET DEEP INTO THE SEA BED AND THAT TUBE EXTENDS THROUGH THE WATER COLUMN UP INTO THE AIR SO THE TURBINE SITS ON TOP OF IT.

WHEN WE DESIGN THIS FROM AN ENGINEERING PERSPECTIVE WE HAVE TO DESIGN THESE PROJECTS TO WITHSTAND THE MOST EXTREME EVENTS THAT ANY ENGINEER CAN COME UP WITH.

SO HURRICANES ARE SOMETHING THAT IS WELL WITHIN OUR ABILITY TO DEAL WITH.

AND AS A MATTER OF FACT, HURRICANES PRODUCE A LOT OF ENERGY AS YOU CAN IMAGINE BEFORE THE HURRICANE GETS TO THE LOCATION, THE WIND STARTS BLOWING DAYS IN ADVANCE AS THE HURRICANE PASSES THE WIND IS BLOWING HARD FOR DAYS LATER.

SO IT'S REALLY JUST WHEN THAT STORM IS PASSING DIRECTLY OVERHEAD THAT THE WIND FARM WILL POWER DOWN.

AND ESSENTIALLY THE TURBINE WILL GO INTO A NEUTRAL POSITION SO IT'S NOT -- IT'S SORT OF FREELY FLOATING THERE IN THE WIND AND IT WILL TURN IN A WAY THAT THE BLADES ARE NOT BEING IMPACTED BY THE WIND SPEEDS.

BUT BASICALLY, WE LIKE IT WHEN ONE OF THE BIG STORMS COME CLOSE TO THE COAST BECAUSE WE PRODUCE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF POWER THOSE DAYS.

>> Jeff: YOU AND THE SURFERS, I BELIEVE.

IT SOUNDS LIKE THE SHIP IS READY TO SET SAIL WHAT.

ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT AT THIS POINT?

WHAT COULD STAND IN THE WAY OF GETTING THIS RUNNING WITHIN A COUPLE OF YEARS?

>> WELL, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, JEFF, I WORRY ABOUT EVERYTHING THERE ARE A MILLION THINGS TO WORRY ABOUT EVERYDAY.

BUT I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE IT ALL WELL UNDER CONTROL.

WE HAVE A VERY TALENTED TEAMWORKING ON EVERY ASPECT OF THIS PROJECT.

EVERYTHING YOU CAN POSSIBLY IMAGINE.

AND SO I'M VERY CONFIDENT THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE UP AND RUNNING IN A FEW YEARS AND THAT THAT OUR FIRST PROJECT WILL BE THE FIRST OF SEVERAL THAT WE WILL BE BUILDING FOR MARYLAND.

AND OTHER STATES ARE SEEING SIMILAR PROJECTS ADVANCE.

SO AS A WHOLE, THIS IS AN INDUSTRY THIS OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY INDUSTRY THAT IS ABOUT TO COME TO THE UNITED STATES IN A VERY BIG WAY.

>> Jeff: PEOPLE WATCHING AROUND THE STATE MAYBE MAY BE WONDERING IF THERE IS A SUCH THING AS A HOME VERSION?

IS THERE YOU ARE ON A BREEZE HILLTOP IS THAT FEASIBLE FROM EVERYTHING YOU KNOW ABOUT THE TECHNOLOGY?

>> WELL, I WOULD IMAGINE IT'S PROBABLY EASIER FOR FOLKS TO LOOK AT SOLAR FOR THEIR HOMES.

WIND IN YOUR HOME PROBABLY IS A MORE DIFFICULT TASK.

BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF GOOD SOLAR INSTALLATION COMPANIES I WOULD POINT PEOPLE TO FIRST.

>> Jeff: AND LASTLY IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU WILL BE HIRING A LOT OF PEOPLE.

HOW DOES SOMEBODY GET STARTED IN THIS FIELD?

>> WELL, WE ARE A BALTIMORE BASED COMPANY.

AND WE HAVE OPERATIONS BOTH IN OUR HEADQUARTERS IN DOWNTOWN BALTIMORE AND WE WILL AT OUR FACILITY IN SPARROW'S POINT WHERE THE OLD BETHLEHEM STEEL MILL WAS.

WE WILL BE HIRING FOLKS EVERYTHING FROM TRADESMEN AND WOMEN TO ENGINEERS AND THE LIKE.

PROBABLY THE BEST WAY FOR FOLKS AT THIS POINT IS TO VISIT OUR WEBSITE, U.S.WINDINC..COM.

>> Jeff: JESS GRYBOWSKI FROM U.S. WIND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> Jeff: THAT IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" FOR THIS WEEK.

JOIN US FRIDAY FOR "STATE CIRCLE" AND THE LATEST ON MARYLAND POLITICS FRIDAY AT 7:00 P.M. YOU CAN SEE OUR PROGRAMS ON-LINE, THEY ARE IN... FOR ALL OF US AT MPT THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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