A good look at Cape Wind and the potential of supplying our energy needs by building the offshore wind power infrastructure on the Western Atlantic can be found at the Foreign Policy Association’s Climate Change:
What a great yarn! A smart, successful, committed energy entrepreneur comes along with a solid project to provide enough zero-emission, renewable energy to supply, on a good day, all the stationary power needs of Cape Cod, Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, and, if you had plug-in vehicles, a good bit of the surface transportation needs as well. Wind turbines are a proven technology and in Europe, offshore wind farms have been flourishing for years. The project would serve an area that is now subject to considerable air pollution from the ancient power plant that is in place. A devastating oil spill from a barge headed to that power plant occurred only a few years ago. The wind farm will eliminate three quarters of a million tons of GHG a year and provide a much-needed and reliable boost to the New England electrical grid. What’s not to love?!
What are some of the problems people have with offshore wind?
Competing power companies for one, wanting to stick with coal and gas-fired plants. Another stated problem is the “viewshed” issue. Bluewater, very smartly, used computerized graphics to show the folks in Delaware how tiny the “view” issue would be. What I don’t get – and I’ve said it here before – is how you can think of these windfarms as anything other than magnificent. In Europe, as you know, offshore wind is busting out all over. Bluewater’s principal, Peter Mandelstam, is quoted in the article to the effect that “The Europeans see offshore wind turbines as sentinels, protecting them from energy domination by foreign powers.”
A closer look at Cape Wind reveals…
Fishermen, Federally Recognized Native American Tribes, ferry boat captains, local airport officials, chambers of commerce, and representatives of the public such as Senator Ted Kennedy are opposed to Cape Wind. But, the media has generally been quick to dismiss their arguments against what many perceive would only bring clean, green, benefits to citizens and the environment.
While environmentalists who are most familiar with Cape Wind testimony may consider that MA Audubon’s staff scientists’ arrival at up to 6,600 avian mortalities per year by Cape Wind, in this endangered species habitat, is unacceptable.
Fishermen, 3,000 members strong as represented by the Massachusetts Fishermen’s Partnership, are opposed to Cape Wind proposed for this Essential Fish Habitat and spawning ground of Nantucket Sound. They refer to Cape Wind as a “taking” that poses a threat to their heritage trade and safety.
The United South and Eastern Tribes, an organization of 25 federally recognized American Indian tribes in 12 states, has joined with the Federally Recognized Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) in their opposition to the wind factory on Nantucket Sound.
The board of directors of this organization called upon the U.S. Minerals Management Service, which is reviewing the Cape Wind application, to “respect the Traditional, Cultural, Spiritual and Religious beliefs of the Wampanoag People and preserve the spiritual integrity and sanctity of the eastern horizon, vista and horizon viewshed; and to deny the permitting of such a devastatingly and destructive experiment, which will adversely affect and destroy the essence of tranquility, sanctity and spirituality of this sacred place for all time.”
The Wood’s Hole, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority (SSA) stated to lead federal permit reviewing agency, Minerals Management Service, on April 16, 2008:
“The Steamship Authority continues to have serious concerns about the potential hazards and impacts of the proposed Cape Wind project to the safe navigation and operation of our vessels in Nantucket Sound.” It’s important to note that the SSA transports over 3 million passengers across Nantucket Sound, annually.
“Vestas Wind Power is the largest global supplier of wind turbines, with 35,500 installed worldwide and more than 15,000 employees”, reported the Boston Globe on September 21, 2008. Vestas CEO Ditlev Engel provided Globe reporter, Erin Ailworth, his expert opinion on the offshore Cape Wind proposal:
“I think if you look at wind resources on-shore in the US, they are fantastic. And, therefore, I am really wondering why anybody wants to put them up offshore because it’s twice the price. So just as an outsider, I am just scratching my head saying, “Why?”
NIMBYs might be considered selfish if that’s defined as unwilling to pay double for Cape Wind’s energy.
I think the answer to the question that has Vesta’s CEO scratching his head is, “The less people know about Cape Wind, the more they support Cape Wind.”