Cape & Islands News

Pope should take a peek at the Sierra Club's wind tower siting guidelines:

Sierra Club:

“OPPOSES DEVELOPMENT in protected areas such as national and state parks, national monuments, wilderness areas, wildlife refuges, designated roadless areas, critical habitat and designated habitat recovery areas for wildlife, and areas of cultural significance, sacred lands, and other areas that have special scenic, natural or environmental value. In these areas, it is inappropriate to build wind turbines, roads, transmission lines, or any other structure related to wind development.”

“NOT APPROPRIATE SITES The Sierra Club will usually oppose wind development in areas that are Not Appropriate (all the categories below include prior-designated or prior-proposed areas):

*Critical habitat for Rare, Threatened or Endangered Species or habitat for indigenous species critical to a region or state's biodiversity”

Nantucket Sound=endangered species habitat

The Sierra Club wind tower siting guidelines also state they are opposed to wind towers being sited in:

"...areas of cultural significance, sacred lands, and other areas that have special scenic, natural or environmental value."

Cape Cod Times, Karen Jeffry: Tribe gets say on wind farm

''Historically the Sound is of great importance to the tribe,'' tribal spokesman Scott Fearson said. ''The tribe considers the Sound to be ancestral waters. There are a number of concerns about this project.''

''The Tribe's economic health and cultural heritage are virtually defined by our reliance on our coastal resources. ''The Cape Wind project would disrupt the fragile habitat of these aboriginal fishing grounds and pose new navigational hazards to our fleet. The consequences would be devastating, in terms of both economic development and public safety.''

The federally recognized Wampanoags recognize Nantucket Sound to be of cultural significance.

I can. Canoe?
Gee, brilliant idea. A billion dollar casino isn't enough, let's give our indians Nantucket Sound too.
Every knows how much time they used to spend 7 miles offshore paddling around Horseshoe Shoals in their birchbark canoes?

Barbara - I think you are getting way out on a limb. It is clear that you are going to call into doubt anyone with a viewpoint other than your own.

I just wanted to point out, Dick, that you did not respond to my point/concern that the Sierra Club is apparently prepared to ignore their own wind tower siting guidelines when it comes to Cape Wind.

Pope told Cape Cod Today, "This is a good project, and as long as it is built within the guidelines being developed by the ongoing process, we will support it."

The Sierra Club usually opposes wind projects that are proposed in areas that are "Not Appropriate" "Critical habitat for Rare, Threatened or Endangered Species or habitat for indigenous species critical to a region or state's biodiversity”

There are many documented endangered species in Nantucket Sound that are critical to the region's biodiversity.

Federally endangered roseate terns, threatened piping plovers, federally endangered sea turtles, protected marine mammal species, federally regulated finfish and shellfish are present in Nantucket Sound. Does Mr. Pope of the Sierra Club recognize this?