Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Cape Wind and Cape Cod... Our Energy Future?

The New York Times announced today that Interior Secretary Ken Salazar has approved the controversial Wind Turbine project in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of the Cape Cod area in Massachusetts. It has been lingering in the annals of 'project hell' for nine years as its developers attempted to get approval in spite of much political opposition. 
Photo Courtesy of NASA, Provincetown Spit, Cape Cod, Massachusetts


Although the late Senator Ted Kennedy opposed the project, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick along with Green Peace and the Sierra Club are supporters. Certainly it is clean energy - and in spite of the cries about taxpayer expense for re-doing the electrical grid in Massachusetts, the fears that tourism will be affected, etc. - and will broadcast to those middle east, oil-producing countries that America is moving ahead and making alternative plans.


Although I only lived in Massachusetts as a child - on the 'other' Cape Ann - it does seem a bit tragic that this beautiful and quaint coastline will be marred. Then again, tourism may be stimulated as the Greenies come for eco-tours and the energy industry props up a state that has had cyclical unemployment issues for as long as I can remember.


Personally, I would prefer a little scenic marring to a new nuclear energy plant.  As most Americans have refused to reduce their energy consumption in any meaningful way, these alternatives to fossil fuel and the greenhouse gases they emit are necessary.  The people who are crying 'not in my back yard' - with perhaps the exception of the Wampanoag Tribe that has sacred ceremonies based on a full horizon view - are just being... selfish.


There may be scientific reasons or strong safety concerns - like radar issues with the turbines - but as pretty as the coastline may be, preserving the entire planet's eco-system will take sacrifice on all our parts.  Even those with deep pockets and big real estate investments on Cape Cod may have to tolerate some scenic disadvantages to save both proverbial and real polar bears.

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