I live on Cape Cod. When I first heard about this project, I thought it was a great idea. Interestingly, the fight about the project was about sacred Indian grounds and views of the ocean. For example, people like the Kennedys and Kerry were against it, even though it was green, because it would ruin the skyline view from their south-facing estates.
What I never understood is why the actual cost details were held from public view. It was very difficult to find out what was really going on, and what side deals were involved.
It turned out that if this project was done, the local electric companies would be forced to take all the electricity it could generate at high rates (not sure exactly, but something like 25 cents/kwh), which they would then blend in with their other generation costs. Including their markups and grid management costs, this was 30+ cent per kwh electricity to the consumer. Our electricity rates are currently around 21 cents/kwh as it is.
The sneaky, one-bid contract negotiations are what sunk this, not the elitist complaints about the view. F’n Ted Kennedy even had a Senator from Alaska try to sink it on the grounds that the windmills would be within so-many miles of navigational routes (he didn’t want to do it himself).
Of course I’m glad it’s dead. But I’m angry that these things are never debated on real economic grounds—in either direction.
Which part of it would be the great part? The maintenance costs for those monstrosities basically zeroes out any energy benefit they could provide. Look up how much PETROLEUM-based (Oh the Horror!) lubricants it takes to make those stupid things work! Why do commie/socialist wannabes always want monuments erected to their stupidity. If I was that dumb, I would want to hide!