Posted on 02/25/2005 4:05:02 PM PST by Shermy
On the last day the public could comment on the Nantucket Sound wind farm project, the tally of responses yesterday was 3,500 and counting.
But one voice remained silent: U.S. Sen. John Kerry's position is still unclear.
In the years since the Cape Wind Associates proposal was first floated, U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy has stated clearly his opposition. Gov. Mitt Romney and U.S. Rep. William Delahunt, the Cape's congressman, have too.
But Kerry - Nantucket homeowner and the ranking Democrat on the Senate Subcommittee on Oceans, Fisheries, and Coast Guard - still has not taken a position about putting the nation's first offshore wind farm in his back yard.
The proposal, which would place 130 wind turbines in a shallow area of Nantucket Sound, is not just a local controversy.
The issue has emerged as a closely watched battleground in a national debate over commercial development on the ocean's outer shelf.
"His voice has probably got to be heard, especially since this is largely a federal matter," said Daniel Payne, a Democratic consultant who has worked on past Kerry campaigns.
"I would think any political figure who represents the state or communities theoretically affected by the wind farm ought to be on the record."
While some tout the Nantucket Sound project as a unique chance to produce renewable energy on a large scale, others insist the sound is not an appropriate site.
This week, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the principal reviewer of the project, has been compiling final comments on the draft environmental review.
Larry Rosenberg, the Corps' spokesman, said federal workers were still leafing through the responses yesterday. Comments from Kennedy had arrived, he said.
"Kerry," Rosenberg said, "has not come up yet."
Taking his time A Kerry official acknowledged yesterday that the senator had not submitted a comment. The reason? Kerry feels that, as a Massachusetts senator, his obligation is to take his time before expressing any opinion.
"There's even more responsibility, he feels, that he does review all the comments and gets all the reports before he makes a comment," said Setti Warren.
In a statement, Kerry said: "It's critical for citizens, business leaders, and local officials to participate in the comment period, and I look forward to reviewing the results of the Final Environmental Impact Statement once complete."
Critics allege that Kerry, whom Republicans slammed as a fence-sitter during the 2004 presidential campaign, just won't choose a side.
The senator doesn't want to take a public stand that will make him appear weak on renewable energy, suggested Todd Domke, a Republican consultant.
But, Domke added, Kerry is also unwilling to oppose Kennedy, a Capitol Hill institution whose support last year helped resurrect Kerry's flagging presidential campaign.
"In this case, neutrality was politically the only course for him," Domke said. "Besides, this is what he's known for - taking whatever stand is politically expedient."
On both sides of the wind farm debate, people have watched closely for an opinion from Kerry, whose family owns a home on Nantucket.
Especially during his run for the White House last year.
Ample feedback During the fall, the Bush campaign accused Kerry of hypocrisy for pledging more for renewable energy sources but not taking a stand on the wind farm.
Since the Army Corps opened the process to public comment last fall, they've received plenty of feedback. In addition to more than 3,500 written responses, hundreds of citizens and public officials have spoken during a series of public hearings on the Cape and islands.
As the public comment phase ended yesterday, groups on both sides of the issue weighed in.
The Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound, a staunch opponent, submitted an 800-page document. Attorney General Thomas Reilly entered a 41-page statement in opposition.
Meanwhile, a coalition of environmental groups sent comments in support of the wind farm, including the National Resources Defense Council, the Union of Concerned Scientists and the Conservation Law Foundation.
Seth Kaplan, an attorney with the CLF, didn't have a problem with Kerry taking his time.
"I wouldn't be surprised if (Kerry's) take on things is that, in addition to seeing the document, he wants to see comments we made, NRDC made, even the Alliance made.
"It's far better for people to keep an open mind than to pre-judge."
Staff writer ETHAN ZINDLER contributed to this report.
Kerry. Consistent.
John F'in Kerry already has the market cornered on wind, specifically, HOT AIR.
John Kerry is the BIG WIND
Maybe Teresa's the one who should be commenting, not her houseguest.
"yup........same position as the "enviro weenie" Kennedy."
I believe the stress of this article is that Kerry has taken no position at all, unlike Kennedy.
Small matter, but I thought it humorous in light of the same criticisms he faced during the campaign on big matters - flip-flopping and nuances.
I am guessing this is the same deal that would be putting Wind Fans off the coast of Marth's Vineyeard.
This thing started off well and then all of the "Progressive Liberals' who supported it turned against it because it might lower mar their properties there.
What Hypocrisy.
Wind farms are useless eyesores. Even the most idiotic liberal has second thoughts about them.
Sounds like a great idea....build wind mills and condos all over the blue state coastline.
John Kerry IS a wind project.
Which way is the wind blowing? Mr. kerry's take
One of the complaints was that the windmills would be succeptable to being hit by ships. That's their way of saying, "put 'em in a red state so we don't have to look at 'em and we'll use the energy". Bet the farm winds up in Oklahoma.
Those wind farms could play havoc with his windsurfing, the unpredictable cross-currents and all...
LOL.
And Parasail Surf, or whatever that sport is called Kerry thinks plumbers can afford.
wind farms are cool.
Headline should read, "Kerry Refuses to Break Wind of Project" :-)
What a horrible idea!
There was a wind farm on relatively isolated land on near Nantucket's south shore. I'm pretty sure it's gone now. It was ugly and the windmills made an awful racket. Putting such a project near some of America's most valuable land is just a stupid idea.
Kerry is probably opposed to the thing but thinks it's not in his political interest to say so. I sympathize with with him, which is an unusual position to find myself in.
ML/NJ
John Kerry, when told it would happen near his back yard: "I'M ALL AGAINST IT"
Once again, he was for it before he was against it :-)
PS: I know, it's lame :-)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.