PROVIDENCE — Deepwater Wind has hired Sandra T. Whitehouse as a consultant to advise the company on permitting for a marine wind farm proposed in state waters off the coast of Block Island.

Whitehouse, a marine biologist and the wife of U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, will help the New Jersey-based developer put together an application that will be submitted to the state Coastal Resources Management Council.

Deepwater announced the hiring Friday. The company also brought on board a manager for its Providence office and a new liaison on Block Island. Bryan Wilson, a former member of the New Shoreham Town Council, will serve in the latter position, replacing Andres de Lasa.

Sandra Whitehouse is a senior policy adviser to the Ocean Conservancy, an advocacy group, and an environmental policy advisor to the state House of Representatives. She is a former member of the Coastal Resources Management Council and was a consultant for the Coastal States Stewardship Foundation, assisting states in adapting to climate change

Deepwater proposes installing eight wind turbines in state waters about three miles southeast of Block Island by 2012. The company envisions it as the first offshore wind farm in the nation, but other developers in Massachusetts, New Jersey and Delaware are also vying for that distinction.

If successful, the Block Island wind farm would be the precursor to a much larger project of 106 turbines at least 15 miles from the Rhode Island shore. Because the bigger wind farm would be located in federal waters, the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Minerals Management Service would be the lead permitting agency for it.

Deepwater’s two projects would cost an estimated $1.5 billion.

akuffner@projo.com