One of the most hotly debated renewable power projects within the country is Cape Wind. The debate is even a lot more frantic now that Cape Wind has been approved by the US Department of the Interior. If Cape Wind is built, it will be the first-ever U.S. offshore wind development and would be able to provide cheap power to 3 quarters of the Cape Cod community. Developers have a loan company and a lot technology at the ready, but some of the residents of the shoreline are vowing to fight the development as long as they can.
What is this Cape Wind?
Cape Wind involved a 130 turbine wind farm in Nantucket Sound. For nine years, Cape Wind has been under “federal review” as it was submitted almost a decade ago. The offshore wind turbines would be anchored within the sea floor and would use the strong, constant sea wind to generate power. It is estimated for Cape Wind turbines to be one half of one inch when standing on the shore. Cape Wind would be the first offshore wind farm within the US, although you will find proposals for Delaware, Texas, Maryland, and New Jersey also.
Arguments that are against Cape Wind
Cape Wind encountered its first roadblocks very early within the project development. Late Senator Edward Kennedy fought against Cape Wind; he was worried that it would be a “special interest giveaway” and that it would ruin the views from the family property that looks out onto Nantucket Bay. Others against Cape Wind worry that the wind farm would “jeopardize tourism” by changing the view of Nantucket Bay. The Wampanoag Native American tribe has also challenged Cape Wind. The Wampanoag tribe believes that Cape Wind would make difficult religious practice that requires a clear view of the sun over the bay – and that the windmills would be anchored in long-flooded burial grounds.
Arguments for Cape Wind
People who like Cape Wind form a coalition just as odd. Cape Wind was lauded by environmental groups, as renewable energy because of the development might proved clean energy to many Cape Cod. As domestically produced power, the Cape Wind project would also help reduce U.S. dependence on oil, a major goal of the Obama administration. Hundreds of “green jobs” would also be produced by Cape Wind in this depressed economy..
Government approves Cape Wind
This is far from the last word on the development although U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar has approved Cape Wind. While other countries, like Denmark, are using Cape Wind-style projects to provide power for years, this project would jump-start the U.S. development of clean offshore power. Opponents have vowed to use quick loans to fight Cape Wind in court at the very same time environmental groups, and the government, are looking for domestic energy solutions that don’t risk 1,800 square mile oil spills. What is your Cape Wind opinion?
Resources
NPR.org
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126363616
Washington Post
http://views.washingtonpost.com/climate-change/post-carbon/2010/04/salazar_to_approve_cape_wind.html
