Wind Energy in the Nantucket Sound

1
Wind Energy in the Nantucket Sound

• A righteous, pro-environmental alternative energy
  proposal?
• Or
• A profit seeking, ocean sacrificing capitalist
  scheme?

2
Background

• Wind turbines are being considered as a practical
  alternative to fossil fuel power plants for mass
  electricity production.
• Using wind power to mechanize generators results
  in no greenhouse gas emissions as opposed to oil,
  natural gas, and coal at a potentially low cost.
• As technology has advanced the application of
  wind power has become possible through
  competitive cost reduction and has been utilized
  domestically on land in Vermont and abroad on
  ocean sites off the coast of Denmark, Ireland and
  England.
• Among the benefits are the lessening of
  dependency on foreign oil by reducing demand,
  decreasing energy costs for consumers, and a
  cleaner source of electricity with negligible
  impacts on the environment.

3
Proposal

• In early November of 2001, Cape Wind initially
  submitted a proposal for a lesser sized tower for
  the purpose of gathering data on the area of the
  Sound.
• Following this, Cape Wind also proposed the
  primary project which was to construct 170 wind
  turbines in the Nantucket Sound along with ocean
  floor transmission cables stretching to the
  Capes mainland as well as Marthas Vineyard and
  Nantucket.
• The Army Corps of Engineers New England District
  received the submission and after initial
  assessment it was determined that an EIS must be
  made under NEPA law in order for the necessary
  permits to be acquired.

4
Proponents and Opponents

• Advocates
• Comprised of mainly small grass roots campaigns
  from among permanent Cape Cod and Island
  residents and the Cape Wind business interest.
• Primarily interested in the reduction of fossil
  fuel use by power plants along the New England
  sea board and its environmental benefits as well
  as reduced electricity costs.

• Opponents
• Consists of several wealthy and interested summer
  residents, vacationers, and tourists that have
  arranged a larger organization called the
  Alliance.
• Concerned with the effects that the turbines will
  have on the Capes natural scenery as well as
  their recreational activities. They are also
  troubled by the potential loss in value of their
  expensive coastline property.

5
The Proposals Progress

• Through studies conducted by the Army Corps of
  Engineers as well as the Department of Interior
  compiled with the public comments from public and
  private interests an Environmental Impact
  Statement was processed and submitted in 2004. A
  subsequent study was done through the state law
  as well.
• In response to the EIS the proposal was limited
  to only 130 turbines and it was determined that
  the initial area of the Nantucket Sound called
  Horseshoe Shoals was the optimal area for wind
  reliability.
• The project has been slowed down in permit
  acquisition because of the Interiors entrance
  into the process. A tentative date has been has
  set for final permit acquisition in 2007 from the
  Interior and the project should begin by 2009 if
  passed completely.

6
Related Information

• Advocates
• It is calculated that the project will result in
  600-1000 construction jobs and 150 permanent jobs
  generating 7 million in labor income.
• There will also be an increase of 22 million in
  economic output in the area.
• The effects on wildlife will be negligible and
  even possibly beneficial for certain fish species
  such as the Cod who will be attracted to the area
  by the towers foundations.
• Emissions would be reduced in New England power
  plants by 1 million tons per year.

• Opponents
• CO2 sequestration could be used as a process for
  eliminating and re-using greenhouse emissions and
  producing more oil and natural gas from drill
  sites.
• Only 2 of the fossil fuels utilized in the
  country contribute to electricity generation.
• Although subsidies will allow the business to
  enter the market, it will only result in a
  non-competitive industry because of the benefit
  in costs received by the wind energy business.