Cape Wind Decision Due This Week: Likely Only First Step

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar is preparing to render his decision on the fate of Cape Wind, the 130 wind turbine project to be located in the heart of Nantucket Sound off Cape Wind.  The political heat on this decision is rising as the governors of six East Coast states have come out urging the project’s approval.  They believe that the rejection of Cape Wind on visual pollution issues “would establish a precedent that would make it difficult, if not impossible, to site offshore wind projects anywhere along the Eastern Seaboard.” 

The project is opposed by powerful political forces in Massachusetts, including the Kennedy family whose compound on Cape Cod has been designated a national historic landmark.  That landmark was cited by the National Park Commission special panel appointed to review the project as being harmed by the wind farm’s location.  Other political parties with second homes on Nantucket Island and Martha’s Vineyard, closely aligned with the Kennedys, have been battling the project throughout its nine year life. 

The six East Coast states – Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island – all have wind farm projects in early stages of development that would be at risk should Sec. Salazar reject Cape Wind.  Of course, Rhode Island’s public utility commission has already rejected the power contract negotiated between the wind farm developer and the state’s utility putting the project in jeopardy.  Likewise, a recent report by the International Energy Agency shows that offshore wind power is nowhere close to being economic with other forms of electric power generation.  In reality, the study showed that even onshore wind farms are barely cost competitive with other power sources except possibly in North America. 

The New York Times editorial today suggests that Sec. Salazar should approve Cape Wind.  The Interior Department has a secondary challenge since one of the principle objections has come from two local Indian tribes who claim the existence of the wind turbines would destroy their view of the horizon that is of paramount importance for their daily rituals.  Their argument has been upheld by the Park Service compounding Sec. Salazar’s problem since another of his departments, the Minerals Management Service, favors the wind farm.  Since Interior is still trying to settle with the American Indian tribes over the historical mismanagement of the natural resources on native lands, ruling against these tribes could be seen as helping to make up for the department’s past actions.

The decision is due this week.  Lawsuits have been threatened by many parties involved, so we don’t expect Sec. Salazar’s decision ending the debate over Cape Wind.