Cape Wind opposition leader, Charles Vinick is preparing to leave his post. Vinick, president of the Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound, the well-funded opposition organization of the proposed Cape Wind energy project, has indicated that he would “transition” out of the position within a month.
Even if you haven’t closely followed the protracted political saga swirling around the proposed offshore wind farm in the shallow waters off Cape Cod, Massachusetts, you probably know that it has been going on for a long, long time. Unfortunately, the case has been filled with enough juicy political fodder over the last seven years to keep people from dwelling upon the fact that the regulatory review has already brought seven years of scrutiny by seventeen state and federal agencies.
However, an end may be in sight as a final decision from the U.S. Minerals Management Service (MMS) is imminent. That is why the timing of Vinick’s announcement strikes me as odd, and quite possibly a harbinger of things to come. Does Mr. Vinick know something we don’t? After all, for the past several months he worked out of the Alliance’s Washington D.C. office in anticipation of the pending draft environmental report. And now that the report is finally due to come out, he has decided to step down? Curious. In a case that has had no shortage of politics, this appears to be a clearly calculated move by an individual who has finally seen the writing on the wall.
And even though the MMS has announced that a decision would be forthcoming in early 2008, I would be remiss to ignore what happened the last time a final decision on the Cape Wind project was imminent – in 2005.
Background on the contentious Cape Wind saga:
Photo Credit: phault
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Congrats on your first post to sustainablog! I just love wind turbines – we only have one in town that I know of (St Louis). Hm, now I’m wondering if there are indeed more around here…
I like them too. Of all the things humans have created in the built environment, the large wind turbines have got to be the most graceful and unobtrusive structures of their size.
Timmy B: Unobtrusive? Really?? Would you live in a field of these? Im guessing not since your comment follows article about an offshore installation.
Speaking of offshore, this would mix nicely with http://finavera.com/en/wavetech.
M- That depends where that field was! I think I would live amongst turbines if it were the right situation (i.e. I liked my home, my neighbors, and the locale). I would not want to live in a field of these if it meant it was always crazy windy.
I live in a very windy spot right now, and I would enjoy the wind a whole lot more if I knew I was getting my electricity from it or if I were receiving some economic benefit$ from it.
I agree, it seems to me that there is a tremendous potential in offshore and wave technology, but large scale development of either is still a ways off.
Great article, and very well written!
I want a wind turbine, because I do think they are beautiful. We don’t really need the power (we live off the grid), but in the summer months when the hydro drops from the dry weather, a wind turbine would be useful.
Dear Jennifer -
You may want to consider a solar photovoltaic system for summertime electricity. It is likely that you would have less wind power in the summertime as well as less hydro.
Good job Tim!! I say use what’s right for your area. Measure your average wind speed with an Anemometer prior to making a decision on purchasing a wind turbine. If you get get 11.5 mph a day go for it !!!!!!