Common Sense to Offshore Wind Power

Developing new wind power farms off the Atlantic coast of America received a much needed shot in the arm this week from the Obama administration. One of the largest deterrents to expanding wind power offshore is the multiple levels of federal, state, and local red tape that every project must go through before even one wind turbine can be built. The U.S. Department of the Interior announced a fast track process that will remove years from the process by pre-qualifying potential tracts offshore for potential developers that are considering new offshore wind projects. The new initiative has been rightfully named, “Smart from the Start”.

BALTIMORE, MD -- Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today launched a ‘Smart from the Start’ wind energy initiative for the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf to facilitate siting, leasing and construction of new projects, spurring the rapid and responsible development of this abundant renewable resource. “Our ‘Smart from the Start’ Initiative for Atlantic wind will allow us to identify priority Wind Energy Areas for potential development, improve our coordination with local, state, and federal partners, and accelerate the leasing process,” Salazar noted. “If we are wise with our planning, we can help build a robust and environmentally responsible offshore renewable energy program that creates jobs here at home.” The accelerated leasing process is being simplified through a regulatory change, enabling leases to be issued in 2011 and 2012. – U.S. Department of the Interior

With our nation still heavily dependent on foreign sources for our energy needs then it makes for common sense that our government does everything possible to expedite our weaning from those energy sources.

The Cape Wind project off the coast of Massachusetts is just one example of regulation gone mad with the project taking almost ten years before even one watt of energy is harvested. Cape Wind once completed will supply 75% of the electricity needed by the residents and businesses on Cape Cod. Just imagine dozens of such wind farms off the Atlantic coast and the impact that would have on reducing our energy dependence.

Several states like Maryland, New Jersey and Rhode Island have already taken steps to speed up the process for new offshore wind power farms and the added streamlining by the Department of the Interior is a win, win for renewable energy in America.

Papamoka

Cape Wind or Cape Windless

What are people talking about when they mention the horrible view that the Cape Wind Associates project will have for Cape Cod residents? Could it be that the closest simulated view point from Cotuit, Massachusetts at 5.6 miles from shore is simply atrocious to some residents. What about the renewable energy benefits of 75% of the Cape’s electricity being supplied by the non stop winds off of Cape Cod and the proposed 130 wind turbines? Why is the Cape Wind project stalled even though at one point in time it had an 86% approval rating from Cape Cod residents?

The Cape Wind project has been in and out of the news as far as its progress or lack of progress goes. From all accounts this seems to be coming down to a NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) mega watt deity with none of the perks enjoyed by Greek Mythology gods and goddesses. Massachusetts may still be the bluest of the blue states but when it comes to wind power projects it reverts back to the fossil fueled industrial age of power generation where you grab some stuff that will burn and boil some water to make an electric engine go broom-broom.

Cape Wind which was first proposed in 2000 has been in the development phase since the Corps of Engineers issued its initial impact study in November of 2004 and the NIMBY arguments have been going back and forth since. The latest gripes or approvals are coming from Indian tribes on Cape Cod where some are complaining that the wind turbines will interfere with important cultural ceremonies based on the sun rise and others argue the exact opposite.

President Obama, who ran for President as a pro renewable energy candidate, recently sent his Secretary of the Interior to the Cape to weigh in on the decision to finally approve or deny the Cape Wind project.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, who traveled to Nantucket Sound Feb. 2 with his team from the Interior Department on what he called a “fact finding mission,” gave no hint about which direction the administration is leaning toward. On the contrary, in discussing the pros and cons of the Cape Wind energy project, the secretary said he is as likely to approve the project as he is to deny it. - Indian Country Today

Hmmm? I have a strange feeling that this project with all the environmentally sound positive benefits will still be in the NIMBY mitigation phase in 2020, 2030, and 2050. The “he said, she said” banter regarding the Cape Wind Associates project will continue long after someone proposes a “clean” nuclear power plant, builds the nuclear power plant on Cape Cod, and that plant is shipping rail cars full of nuclear waste to Nevada to be buried for a million plus years.

At least the view from the beach won’t be interfered with. Cape residents should speak up loud and clear if they are a WIMBY (Wind In My Back Yard) or a "Go Nukes" proponent. I'm curious to see which view the folks on Cape Cod finally end up with for their electric energy needs.

Papamoka