Cape Wind has been one of the most hotly debated renewable power projects in the country. The debate is even 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 three quarters of the Cape Cod community. Developers have a loan company and technology at the ready, but many of the different residents of the shoreline are vowing to fight the development as long as they can.
So what then is Cape Wind?
Cape wind planned because of a 130 turbine wind farm in Nantucket Sound. Almost a decade ago, the original plan for Cape Wind was submitted and has been under “federal review†for nine years. The offshore wind turbines would be anchored in 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 in the United States, even though there are proposals for Maryland, Delaware, Texas, and New Jersey as well.
Arguments against Cape Wind
Cape Wind came across road blocks early in the 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 impossible 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 towards Cape Wind
Those in favor of Cape Wind development are just as broad. Cape Wind was lauded by environmental groups, as renewable energy because of the development might proved clean energy to a lot of Cape Cod. The Cape Wind project, as domestically produced power, would help reduce US dependence on oil which is a goal for the Obama administration. Hundreds of “green jobs†would also be produced by Cape Wind in this depressed economy..
Government approves Cape Wind
Though U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar has approved Cape Wind, that is far from the last word on the development. While many other countries, like Denmark, have been 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 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 opinion of Cape Wind?
Article Sources
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
Tags: cape cod, cape wind, loan company, quick loans