Wind Farm Off Cape Cod Clears Hurdle

NY Times ^ | 1/17/09 | Abby Goodnough

[NormsRevenge]

BOSTON — A federal agency said Friday that the nation’s first offshore wind farm, proposed for the waters off Cape Cod, posed no serious environmental threat, bringing it a major step closer to fruition.

Homeowners and boaters on the cape, including Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Democrat of Massachusetts, have fought the project for eight years, saying it would hurt wildlife, fishing and tourism and spoil the beauty of Nantucket Sound.

Opponents have sued to stop the project, known as Cape Wind, and more challenges are certain, keeping the path to construction bumpy despite what supporters on Friday called a crucial victory.

[Syncro]

It would be nice if windmills were cost effective.

But once Obama bankrupts the coal industry and that 50% of the electricity supply in the USA is knocked out windmill, solar, lunar and gerbils in exercise wheels will be cost effective.

What with electricity probably quadrupling in price.

[truthguy]

I guess I'm starting to sound like a broken record (to those of you old enough to remember records) but if the good people of New England had built a couple of more Nuclear Power Plants, then these hideous windmills would not have been necessary.
Nuclear Power and electric cars = more energy security

[chris_bdba]

Hehehe! Poor Uncle Teddy. Now that Obama and the enviromentalist’s at at the helm, it’s really too bad abut your view. See you in 4 years! *sarcasm*

[Cyber Liberty]

If you stand on the pristine shoreline, can you see it? It’s thinking like yours that will be the death of us.

[hadaclueonce]

I really wish that wind generation did what you all think it does.

People think that it makes a difference, it does not.

People think it is free, it is not.

The only thing “green” about wind generation is your tax dollars going to the developers.

“T Bone Pickens” wants his bailout!

How can you tell him no?

[OriginalChristian]

Far from free they are. Huge costs for very little generation. Coal, Nuke and Hydro WILL be the baseline generation method for the forseeable future, wind and all other don’t amount to anything dependable.

[dearolddad]

From someone who lives on the Cape, the only reason I would support this fiasco is because it will ruin his view. But I’m on Teddy’s side on this. It is the ruination of a pristine coastline that we rely on for income, when all else is ruined on land by grandiose ideas gone wrong, like Teddy’s free social programs that have turned Hyannis (and much of this country) into a slum, they turn to the water. Cape Cod survived on its natural beauty to attract income, now this will scar it forever.

Let me get this straight. It's just peachy keen and dandy fine as long as it's in the back yard of someone else. Do I have that right?

[hadaclueonce]

“dependable”

That is the key.

There is not an weather forecaster in the the world than can get the high temprature forecast within +or minus 4 degrees more than 90% of the time.

Wind forecast is even smaller. Tell us what time the wind will blow and electric utility Operators can deal with it.

Wind generation makes everyone feel good, like they are making an difference. Gives something to spout to the MSM and before their next drink at a party.

America, if you think wind generation is the savior, you are doomed.

[Melinda]

No, you don’t have that right at all. I believe windpower is already obsolete.

[Will88]

No one does shameless hypocrisy like an American leftist, and the richer they are the more shameless they are. But maybe the Kennedys will be too busy do goodering and keeping track of all that off shore money from old Joe's pre-1929 stock manipulation and bootlegging days to be bothered by that swooshing sound.

[Melinda]

This is a power grab, nothing more, nothing less. There are alternative energies close on the horizon and some already here that will render this a wasteland in a few short years. This wind farm will ruin the view and resale value of some of the most expensive properties on the Cape, properties whose owners pay taxes, spend on the local economy, etc. etc... They will bolt for better views as soon as possible, leaving a waste of once highly taxable property behind them, taking there dollars out of our economy for good. Lit up at night, this will glow in the distance like a NASCAR race track. Such a lovely sight.

[Will88]

Horrible pictures. Where is that?

[Melinda]

“What is wrong with a wind farm for the elite?”

That doesn’t sound like a comment coming from a business professor or an FR conservative. Think of the detrimental effect this will have on the expensive, taxable properties that will face it. Once having an unobstucted ocean view, they will now have whirligigs by day and a lit up eyesore at night. Loss of property value, loss of income to the towns, it adds up to a loss overall, doesn’t it Professor? These are butt ugly and with better alternatives already available, not wanted nor needed. And no, I’m not one of the “elite” and not too many of us who oppose this are.

[Red_Devil 232]

The picture on the top is in Germany the other one is California.

[Melinda]

Oops, that’s “their”, not “there”. Typing too fast again.

[Melinda]

What, you didn’t check out the article? Look at the picture!

[okie01]

Lit up at night, this will glow in the distance like a NASCAR race track. Such a lovely sight.

Somehow, the people in Talladega (and Bristol and Darlington, etc) seem to get along with a NASCAR track in their backyard.

Why are the Cape Codders unable to accommodate windmills?

People in Florida don't want drilling platforms within their view. Yet, people in Texas and Louisiana have never voiced an objection to the sight of same -- seeing them as a source of energy, jobs and fishing reefs.

Now, if you wanted to argue that windmill farms are a total waste of capital, I'd agree with you. Question: what "alternative energies" are "on the horizon"? Alternatives that make any sense, that is (at least more than windmills).

[Melinda]

Small safe nuclear units, see Hyperion in New Mexico. Home nuclear units, by Toshiba. Geothermal, etc. etc. Cape Cod's economy is wholly dependent on its waterfront. It is a tourist and service economy. This farm is proposed off of some of the most valuable vistas we have, between Cotuit and Nantucket. It is not a far off mountain top or a stretch of desert or prairie where one hundred windmills would never be noticed. This location is too valuable, and means too much to us as it is to lose it forever to a windmill farm.