EXTRA...

Kennedy at War against Danish Wind Turbines

European journalists astonished at American NIMBYism

A week ago the local 12,000-member grassroots organization Clean Power Now hosted a large contingent of Danish journalists (about half the group shown above) from that nation's TV, radio, magazine and newspapers while they filed stories about Cape Wind and the American experience with wind farms. Denmark is today energy independent, largely through the construction of offshore wind farms almost identical to the one planned for Nantucket Sound. This article appeared in the Danish newspaper BT, in Copenhagen, May 10, 2009 and was translated for cc2day by Dorte and Bill Griswold.

Senator Ted Kennedy Is Convinced That Danish Wind Turbines Will Ruin The View From His Elegant House In Hyannisport, USA.
For The Past Six Years, He Has Tried To Block The Planned Wind farm

By Søren Mortensen

The CPN members welcomed the Danes with their nation's flag stuck in the huge flower pot in front of Pizzeria Uno in Hyannis. Below is the map which appeared in the Danish edition of this story.

Haze lies close over the Kennedy Compound in Hyannisport, on Cape Cod in Massachusetts, on the east coast of the United States.

The weather is like this for 200 days a year, even on the day in May when BT came for a visit.

Here the Kennedy clan has lived for generations. It is here on Cape Cod, and on the nearby islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket, that America's rich and hyper-rich come to vacation in exclusive summer houses in gated communities, and to enjoy the life on the wind swept beach.

But, for the past six years, a Danish inspired plan to build an offshore wind farm on a shoal 6.5 miles out on the Sound, between the islands, has been a thorn in the eye of the clan's patriarch, the 77 year old Democratic senator Ted Kennedy.

He is afraid that the wind farm will block the view from his patio, or so say the people in favor of the offshore wind farm, sarcastically. The well known Senator has a difficult case: He is in favor of wind turbines, but just not where he lives. "We all know that I support wind power, but it has to be done correctly, and this is just not correct," said Ted Kennedy. With his 47 years in the U.S. Senate, the Senator enjoys great respect, but less now that he, in his advancing years, has developed into a self-centered and egotistical old man.

"You can say that he is against wind turbines, because they will spoil his view," said the projects director Barbara Hill on John Edward's satirical show The Daily Show. "This is exactly what I mean. It is hypocritical," she replied. She had a chance to express the anger which many feel over the rich who take Cape Cod as their own private playground, and then consider politics as something which is settled at dinner parties.

In his advancing years, he has developed into a self-centered and egotistical old man.

A supporter, Dorte Griswold, who is married to an American, has twice guided groups to Denmark to see offshore wind turbines. The first time, they went to Blaavandshuk to see Horns Rev. The second time, they went to Nysted on Lolland, to see Rødsand. These visits were widely reported in the media on Cape Cod and in Boston, and have played an influential role in attracting support for the project. The most recent survey showed that a great majority favor the project.

Danish Wind Farms the same distance from shore as Cape Wind

The two Danish offshore wind farms are located the same distance from the coast as is planned for Nantucket Sound. On a clear day, you can get a faint glimpse of the 110 meter high wind turbines, when you look out over the ocean.

Cape Wind will generate enough electricity to power 400,000 American households

Mark Rodgers from Cape Wind, the firm which will build the offshore wind farm, stated that they are in negotiations with Vestas and Siemens on a gigantic contract for about six billion Danish kroner (about one billion US dollars). The 130 wind turbines will generate enough electricity to power 400,000 American households, and can deliver 75% of the electricity requirement on Cape Cod. This is big, even by American standards.

Dorte Griswold and her husband, William, just don't believe that people will be annoyed by the wind turbines. "They are beautiful to look at, when you are lucky enough to see them," said William Griswold.

How Denmark reacted to Oil threat

1973: Oil Crisis: Denmark depends on foreign oil for 90% of its electricity.To remedy, Denmark institutes rapid development of wind energy to solve their oil crisis.
1985: Denmark bans nuclear power.
1991: First offshore wind farm built in Denmark.
1995: Denmark bans new coal power plants.
1997: Denmark achieves total energy independence.
2004: With 6 offshore wind farms, Denmark can generate 32% of all domestic electricity from wind.
2005: Denmark begins the doubling of its two world's largest offshore wind farms, Horns Rev and Nysted.

The opponents have formed an organization called Save Our Sound, which benefits from financial support from Ted Kennedy and a handful of other wealthy people in the area. The organization's Director, Audra Parker, hopes that in the end, with luck, they will be able to block the project. "We are not against wind power, but Nantucket Sound is the worst possible location." Audra Parker sees the wind turbines as a threat to fisheries, rare birds and tourism. And, she warns, the wind turbines can pose a danger for the intense aviation traffic which crosses Nantucket Sound. In this area, summer house owners have their own airplanes, for the trip to Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket from the mainland, and they customarily fly low over the water.

Why don't you object to this, when you love nature so much, Audra Parker was asked. "Airplane traffic? Do you mean that we should stop the airplane traffic? You can't do that," was the answer.

For Barbara Hill, the placement of wind turbines on the shoal in the Sound is appropriate, because the shallow water makes it easier to build and maintain the wind farm. Ship traffic is not hindered, and most yachts draw enough water that they can not approach the wind farm without running aground. "The Shoal is close to being the perfect location. Cape Wind has been under review for eight years. Two State and two Federal studues have concluded that the project has many advantages, and only a few disadvantages," she said.