Despite opposition from the rich and famous, as was so well documented in the book Cape Wind, visionary Jim Gordon received long awaited news today. Even when the Kennedy clan mobilized their troops, Jim persevered.
As I noted last September, “How committed are we to alternative sources of energy?” The answers depend upon the people with whom we speak. Try putting a new source of energy on Cape Cod and watch the Kennedy response. No money is spared to keep windmills from spoiling their view. Apparently they have never been to Holland where windmills are sculptures in motion. The Big Drill with Nancy and Sarah
Today’s news is so exciting that those of you still wondering why I am interspersing love and money with GREEN news — read this Cape Wind press release.
State Agency Unanimous OK of Cape Wind Completes State and Local Permitting
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BOSTON, MA, May 21, 2009 – Cape Wind completed its State and Local permitting process today with a unanimous vote of the Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Board to grant Cape Wind a ‘Certificate of Environmental Impact and Public Interest’ that rolls up all State and Local permits and approvals into one ‘composite certificate’.
Cape Wind President Jim Gordon welcomed the news: “Today’s vote marks not just a successful conclusion to a seven-year state regulatory review of the Cape Wind project but the beginning of a new era of clean energy jobs and renewable power from the endless wind resources off our shore.”
Completion of the Federal Permitting process for Cape Wind is expected soon when U.S. Secretary Ken Salazar issues a Record of Decision on Cape Wind. The Minerals Management Service of the U.S. Department of Interior issued Cape Wind a favorable Final Environmental Impact Statement in January.
Environmental impact energy facilities:The Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Board (Siting Board), was created by the Legislature to ensure the siting of needed and least environmental impact energy facilities and was granted the statutory authority to issue a comprehensive approval to an energy facility it has previously approved, where that facility has been denied a permit by any other state or local agency in the Commonwealth. The Siting Board exercised their statutory authority in their vote today which was necessitated by a procedural denial issued from the Cape Cod Commission in 2007.
Documentation of 50,000 pages: In 2005, the Siting Board approved Cape Wind’s electrical interconnection at the conclusion of a 32-month review of unprecedented length that included 2,900 pages of transcripts, 923 exhibits and 50,000 pages of documentary evidence. The Siting Board found that Cape Wind would meet an identified need for electricity and would provide a reliable energy supply for Massachusetts, with a minimum impact on the environment. The Siting Board’s approval of Cape Wind’s electrical interconnection was upheld by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.
Opinion polls: Two independent public opinion polls have found statewide support for Cape Wind to be 86%.
The nation’s first offshore windfarm: Cape Wind’s proposal to build America’s first offshore wind farm on Horseshoe Shoal would provide three-quarters of the electricity used on Cape Cod and the Islands from clean, renewable energy – reducing this region’s need to import oil, coal and gas. Cape Wind will create new jobs, help stabilize electric costs, contribute to a healthier environment, increase energy independence and establish Massachusetts as a leader in offshore wind power. For more information visit www.capewind.org.
CONTACT, Mark Rodgers 508-237-6312, Communications Director, Cape Wind
Copyright 2009 Rita Watson