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February 24, 2006
Amendment Threatens Offshore US Wind Farms
The US's first offshore wind farm, the 420MW (130 wind turbine) Cape Wind project, located on Nantucket Sound (offshore from Massachusetts), is in danger of being cancelled next week because of Alaska Congressman Don Youngs amendment to the Coast Guard Reauthorization bill. The amendment would ban offshore wind turbines within 1.5 miles of shipping and ferry lanes because they allegedly interfere with shipping and radio transmissions (oil platforms can be built within 500 feet of shipping lanes). Both sides of the debate have paid lobbyists thousands: the Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound (a group against the offshore wind development) has paid more than $840,000 and Cape Wind Associates has spent $340,000.It certainly hasn't been easy going for Cape Wind and offshore wind farms in the US:
A year ago, U.S. Sen. John Warner, R-Va., tried to slide language into a $447 billion defense spending bill that would have imposed a moratorium on offshore wind projects. Earlier this year, Warner and U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., tried to exempt wind farms located off coasts, near military bases, in national parks, and in other potentially sensitive locations from receiving a crucial federal tax subsidy. Earlier this fall, Young's committee considered making any offshore wind project subject to review by the commandant of the Coast Guard.Greenpeace suggests that you take action, since this could potentially affect other offshore wind proposals. Older news coverage about the wind farm is available here. Reading through those headlines, it's surprising that the project is still alive. If everything goes well, the wind farm should come online by 2009.
Posted by dymaxion at February 24, 2006 01:17 PM