The Cape Wind project is US’s first offshore wind energy project, that will be located off the coast of Cape Cod, in Nantucket Sound of Massachusetts (Cape Wind). The wind farm consists of 130 wind turbines, each of 3.6-megawatt power generation capacity. The farm’s total capacity is 468 megawatts sufficient to meet 75% of Cape Cod and its nearby island’s power demands (Cape Wind). Each wind turbine will be mounted on transition pieces, and erected on deep dug, monopile foundations in the seabed (Cape Wind). Power generated from the wind turbines will be transmitted to a central service platform, and then to the substation through a network of submerged and underground cables (Cape Wind). Cape Wind project is expected to cost around 2.5 billion USD, and it has been guaranteed several loans from US Department of Energy and other agencies (Handwerk). The project is in its final financing and contracting stage, i.e. 14 years after filing for permits with federal and state agencies (Cape Wind).
The project has been delayed by several opposing lawsuits, and lack of a proper regulatory framework to assess and approve a first of its kind offshore wind farm in US. In the long run Cape Wind’s renewable power would reduce New England’s wholesale electricity prices by 7 billion USD (Cape Wind). The wind farm assures a clean and sustainable power source, and it can protect the locals from price fluctuations of fossil fuel derived power. Most locals of Nantucket as well as the Federal Government support the Cape Wind project being developed by Energy Management Inc. Stake holders of the project include the project developer, permanent local residents, as well as private vacation home owners, electric utility companies, Wampanoag native American tribes who consider the project area sacred and the Federal Government (since the offshore region is under federal jurisdiction) as well as wildlife conservationists (Love).
The project proponents argue that the region is ideal for wind farm development due to the optimal wind speed, shallow water depth and lower wave heights (Love). Further, a renewable energy project can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and climate change impacts. Whereas the project opponents argue that the wind farm would affect the flourishing tourism and real estate in the area, affect aesthetics and wild life, as well as native tribe’s cultural interests (Love). Further, the renewable power could be costly during initial stages.
However, the aesthetic disturbance argument was only initiated by wealthy vacation homeowners in the area, and was even ridiculed in the popular John Stewart’s show. While most locals want the project, there has been resistance only from wealthy businessmen like William Koch (Seelye). Opposition from a group of elites to an eco-friendly power generation project that is for the greater good is a typical example environmental injustice. In America’s history affluent project proponents have failed to take accountability for their polluting deeds, and weaker economic sections have faced the negative impacts several times (e.g. Tar Creek, Love Canal, etc.). Resistance to Cape Wind is just another form of environmental injustice.
Works Cited
Cape Wind. "Cape Wind Project Overview & Benefits." 2014. Web. 13 May 2016.
<http://www.capewind.org/what>.
Handwerk, Brian. "First U.S. Offshore Wind Farm Wins Federal Funds, Courtroom Fights."
The Great Energy Challenge Blog. 2014. Web. 13 May 2016. <http://energyblog.
nationalgeographic.com/2014/07/17/first-u-s-offshore-wind-farm-wins-federal-funds-courtroom-fights/>.
Jason Jones 180 - Nantucket. 07 Aug. 2007. Web. 13 May 2016. <http://www.
cc.com/video-clips/nmuqcf/the-daily-show-with-jon-stewart-jason-jones-180---nantucket>.
Love, Cassandra. "Case Study: Cape Wind Project." National Geographic Society. 2014.
Web. 13 May 2016. <http://nationalgeographic.org/news/case-study-cape-wind-project/>.
Seelye, Katharine Q. "Koch Brother Wages 12-Year Fight Over Wind Farm." The New York
Times, 2013. Web. 13 May 2016. <http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/23/us/koch-brother-wages-12-year-fight-over-wind-farm.html>.
