Against the Wind

SOS: Urgent message for Nantucket Sound

It is urgent that we contact our Senators and Congresspeople today to express our opinion on Cape Wind's attempt to take over the Nantucket Sound for private enterprise.

Last weeks story in the Martha's Vineyard Gazette  on Cape Wind's backdoor amendment to the Energy Bill which gave it a no competitive bid and the Boston Globes op-ed by By John T. Griffin and Edward Barrett on April 23, 2006 which points out:

 "While Cape Wind has targeted politics and well-funded opponents as the culprits, the real issue -- and villain -- is the utter recklessness of building a massive industrial-scale project across 24 square miles of Nantucket Sound. That's where Cape Wind wants to put 130 steel towers, a location where two ferry routes and the main shipping channel form the ''Nantucket Triangle." They could not have picked a worse location." are two reasons we need to raise our voices to be heard.

And now today's Boston Globe piece "Wind plan needs airing" by columnist Eileen McNamara finally exposes the truth behind Cape Wind's attempt to discredit the opposition:

"Maybe resistance to constructing the nation's first offshore wind facility on Horseshoe Shoal is about more than the property values of folks lucky enough to own homes on Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, or Cape Cod. Maybe it is also about whether a private, for-profit developer ought to be handed 24 square miles of publicly owned federal land without having to submit to a competitive bidding process. Maybe it is about whether Congress ought to devise clear rules for development of the ocean floor before, not after, entrepreneurs start erecting fields of wind turbines offshore.

Don't Jim Gordon, chief executive and president of Cape Wind, and his investors have more financial self-interest in pushing this project than Kennedy and Reilly have in killing it? The Kennedy compound is lovely, but the value of those whitewashed houses does not compare to the tens of millions that Cape Wind will reap if the wind energy facility is built."

Read this Boston Globe piece in its entirety HERE

Read columnist BRENT HAROLD's piece in today's Cape Cod Times HERE

It seems that finally the media is beginning to see what is going on with Cape Wind's hype. Perhaps their flooding the media campaign has gone too far, raising legitimate questions about their tactics. If so, Bravo!

But back to the reason and urgency for this post:

The Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound has added a new page to their Website to

Help stop the industrialization of our Nantucket Sound. The decision is being made THIS WEEK in Washington.  It is URGENT that we let our voices be heard on behalf of our Sound and the citizens of Cape Cod who do not support the take-over of our public resource for private gain without regard for our sense of place, safety and irreplaceable natural resources.

Click HERE for a transfer to the Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound to send an automatic email to our Senators and Congresspeople urging them to support the Steven's Amendment. Follow the instructions there and on the "Get Involved" page.

It will take but a few minutes of your time but will count in preserving one of the most beautiful ecosystems in our country. Please send the link to anyone and everyone you know and ask for their support. Our Sound needs us!

Let your voices be heard on behalf on one who cannot speak for herself, Our Sound, but who gives us so much.

It is time to give back.

Bless you all who stand up for those who can't.

For more information on this important issue be sure to check in with the new Sound Views blog starting next week. And right now on Neil's Counterwind blog.

p>Photo of Audra Parker of the Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound courtesy of Windstop.org

Photo of Moose, the labradoodle and gull-friend at Craigville Beach by Magical Eye.

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There is an Elephant in the Living Room!

Today, Cape Wind and its peculiar band of proponents went to Washington to cry to the National Press about the Steven's Amendment to the US Coast Guard Bill as unfair to THEM since it may be stopped due to public safety concerns.

Meanwhile a front page story in the Cape Cod Times  reveals the real reason behind the Steven's Amendment; Public Safety and National Security.

Here is an excerpt from this important story:

''The results of these trials/studies seem to confirm our concern of potential interference from wind turbines to our own air traffic control radar systems,'' Marion C. Blakely, administrator of the FAA, wrote to Delahunt.

The letter, which does not specifically name the Nantucket Sound project, cites a March 2 meeting where the U.S. leaders were briefed by a representative from the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence about the effects of wind turbines on radar there.

Among the participants during that meeting were the FAA, various military branches and the Department of Interior, the lead agency reviewing the proposal by Cape Wind Associates to build 130 turbines in Nantucket Sound.

In recent months, Delahunt urged federal leaders to conduct such research.

Delahunt staff members said yesterday they were not aware of any specific time frame or studies. ''But now that they've notified a member of Congress, it will begin in earnest,'' said Steven Broderick, a Delahunt spokesman.

The U.S. military has been quiet about its recent investigation into the impact of wind turbines on radar. But the FAA recently froze a permit for a wind park in Wisconsin until the Air Force is sure the turbines will not interfere with a nearby radar station."

No question, there IS an elephant in the living room and Cape Wind and its proponents want us and our elected officials to ignore it by casting itself in the light of 'some one who is being picked on by the rich'. What nonsense.

If Cape Wind and their band of proponents really care about us and our environment they would not put themselves and this particular project above the safety of the American People.

Click here for full story on Radar Interference and National Security

Please join me in calling and writing to our elected officials and media in support of this vital Amendment and let them know you are opposed to Cape Wind. 

Click here for the Senate

Click here for the Congress

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Congratulations APNS and all of the good people who just say NO!

Two incredibly satisfying victories in one week... how wonderful is this? The amendment to the Coast Guard Bill and the overwhelmingly NO vote on Nantucket Island. Bless you all, who worked so hard and who care so much, to make this happen.

Cape Wind is seeing, maybe for the first time, that there are people who are not only not buying Cape Wind's marketing hype but have some power to stop them. Amen.

This, just say no vote, is practically unheard of when it comes to developers... since what the developer counts on is people not having enough staying power, much less money to stop them. They simply wear the people down, have expensive lawyers, people tire, become depressed, run out of money and go away and the developer gets what he wants. And anyone who has ever attempted to fight the good fight knows this. I have seen it so many times. But, in the rare instances when the people stand up, say NO and fight baack... well, my heart just sings. Thank you!!!

Congratulations to the Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound, Windstop.org and all of those generous human beings who just say NO! You not only have put your money, your time and your hard work where your mouth is but you have done it for all of us. We never could have done it without you.

BRAVO!

Photo credit:  Counter Wind Blog

Please call or write to our Senators and Congress men and women to let them know you are opposed to Cape Wind and support the Stevens Amendment.

Click here for the Senate

Click here for the Congress

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A Tribute to Wealth and Vision: The Saving of Storm King Mountain

"Aesthetic issues are real, just as real as issues relating to garbage collection, police protection or water contamination. Aesthetic issues are important. They deeply affect the way we feel about a place . . ."  Scenic Hudson

Photo shows Storm King Mt. on the Hudson River as it is today.

Photo: "Scenic Hudson founders, pictured here on Nov. 9, 1963, at the Octagon House in Irvington, had a vision for a greener Hudson Valley."

It has been over forty two years since the battle for Storm King Mountain was fought with Consolidated Edison and won after a long 17 years by a conservation group formed of people of means and vision, who galvanized the support of 20,000 people from across the nation and world and called themselves The Scenic Hudson Preservation Conference (known today as Scenic Hudson).

If it weren't for the wealthy and the battle for Storm King our beautiful, historic and inspirational Hudson River would likely be one of the Nation's eye-sores.

The Con Edison plant (picture of plans on right) would have been the tip of the iceberg for the industrial development of the Hudson River.

But because of those generous, forward-thinking and courageous people the Hudson River Valley remains one of the most beautiful in the Nation. From its beginning as a small stream in the Adirondacks from Lake Tear of the Clouds to New York City the majority of the Hudson has been protected by the wealthy visionaries who valued its beauty, scenic views and historic significance.

It was not an easy battle by any stretch of the imagination but from it,  grassroots environmentalism, environmental law and the NRDC were born.

NRDC writes in its essay "What Started it All"

"Though many residents of the nearby town of Cornwall-on-Hudson wanted the Con Ed plant because it would means jobs and a boost to the local economy, a few longtime residents of the area -- led by Wall Street lawyer Stephen Duggan and his wife Beatrice "Smokey" Duggan -- launched a campaign to halt it. Storm King Mountain, the surrounding Hudson Highlands, and indeed the entire Hudson River Valley, held a special place in American culture as the distinctively American wilderness venerated by the nation's earliest writers such as James Fenimore Cooper, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Washington Irving, as well as the Hudson River school of landscape artists, including Thomas Cole, Asher Durand, and Frederick Church. The Duggans believed their beloved Hudson Highlands were as beautiful as anything in the Rhine Valley in Germany, and worth fighting to preserve."

"The decision was a legal landmark. For the first time, a conservation group had been permitted to sue to protect the public interest. Although Scenic Hudson had no economic interest in Storm King -- the usual basis for standing -- the court ruled that it nonetheless could be construed to be an "injured party" and was entitled to judicial review of an agency ruling."

And now, we have a similar battle going on over forty years later here on Cape Cod.  A battle that could set a precedent for the future here in Massachusetts and the rich scenic beauty of the Nantucket Sound. 

Just as Con Ed attempted to write off the Scenic Hudson Preservation Conference as the rich who only cared about the view;  Cape Wind attempts to do the same right here on Cape Cod. In fact some of the sentiments and events of forty years ago could be taken straight from a history book.

But there is one thing Cape Wind and the Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound agree on; The way it will look...

--- unless, of course, we fight to stop it and protect the Nantucket Sound from industrial development as did those visionaries, over forty years ago, for the Hudson River. 

To be continued....

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Clean Energy? Nothing 'Clean' About it!

The clock is ticking. And I know we are all holding our breath, at least, I am.

It's called KARMA

What goes round, comes round. At least I hope it does.

Cape Wind found a loop-hole, literally, in the State waters and has been attempting to slip slide itself into that little piece of federal water inside Massachusetts State waters in the Nantucket Sound ever since it began. Then it mounted a HUGE public relations campaign in an attempt to convince the public that we NEED their services. We don't. And we can spot insincerity and BS when we see it.

Now, Cape Wind is like the thief who cries "Stop Thief"! For weeks now they have been crying to the media about their so called unfair treatment. But what about the unfair treatment they have given the good citizens of Cape Cod and Massachusetts by attempting a private takeover of 24 square miles (the size of Manhattan Island) of one of our most precious and historic natural resources, the Nantucket Sound whether we like it or not. A takeover that would net the people nothing but would fill the coffers of Cape Wind to the brim. 

There is nothing CLEAN about the spin of Cape Wind.  Let's hope the government sees that and puts a stop to them.  We have the will and we have the brains to figure out our energy needs. And to do it in such a way that does no more harm to our precious and fragile ecosystem here on Cape Cod.

Please, if you are able, call the following representatives and let them know you support this vital amendment. Those who would destroy the Nantucket are on the phone as I write. Our voices need to be heard.

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Action Alert! Save the Sound from Industrialization

It has come to my attention that Don Young's safety amendment to the Coast Guard Bill may be decided in Washington today.  Please call and let your voice be heard in favor of this vital amendment.

 Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-HI): (202) 224-3934

Rep. Jim Oberstar (D-MN): (202) 225-6211

If passed, this amendment could effectively put a stop to Cape Wind's private take-over and degradation of 24 square miles (the size of the Island of Manhattan) of one of our most important Natural Treasures, the Nantucket Sound.

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Cape Wind's Worst Nightmare: The REAL Truth about Radar

Magical has been waiting for this story to break.  And today it has.

After reading this story please click on the link at the bottom to read the news breaking documents courtesy of  windstop.org.

Rep. Young and Congressman Delahunt, The Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound, Cliff Carroll and Bill Koch have been consistently maligned by Cape Wind and its proponents including an extremely biased press like the Boston Globe. But today the truth about radar interference and off-shore wind farms has been set free!

The picture to the right from the UK maritime agency radar study shows a 40 foot boat  hidden due to side-lobe radar interference.

Click on picture to enlarge.

Radar risk threatens wind farm 

Here is the story from the Cape Cod Times in its entirety.

*** Click HERE to read all of the newsbreaking documents now available to the public on the windstop.org site.

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The truth about radar and Cape Wind

Jim Gordon, Cape Wind and its proponents like Jack Coleman, PR man for Clean Power Now, would have us believe that radar safety is of no concern and simply something made up by Don Young, Bill Koch, the Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound and Cliff Carroll of windstop.org to kill the Cape Wind project.

But, to many of us, it is obvious that Cape Wind is so determined to have its way, it is actually putting its industrial wind power plant ahead of the safety and security of the nation.

What Cape Wind is not telling us (and they have to know this) is that wind farm permits are now being denied across this country because of the affect they may have on military radar and National security.  One such project of 133 turbines in Wisconsin, similar in size to Cape Wind, has now been placed on hold while the US Air force studies in possible affects on the Brownsville-area radar. And another, a 33 turbine facility in Texas.

FAA's Bruce Beard says "The issue is new because of the military's new roles in air space surveillance following the Sept. 11 attacks."  "The Air Force using its own radar equipment and that of the FAA, tracks and potentially intercepts planes that lose radio contact with the FAA, he said."

"So right now we're trying to figure out how we're going to commingle with everybody getting most of what the want, without damaging our radar service and without preventing the use of wind turbines being developed," said Beard, national operations manager of obstruction evaluation services at the FAA."

Cape Wind's refusal to come up with a working alternative is what will kill its project, not,  those who  attempt to protect the Nantucket Sound from industrialization and those who attempt to protect our national security from stealth attack.

*A letter from the FAA dated 02/01/06 has just come to my attention stating that each of the four wind turbines applied for by the Town of Yarmouth have been denied as being too tall (389 feet above ground and 439 feet above sea level) since they would intrude into the instrument air space for Barnstable Municipal Airport but would also have an adverse physical or electromagnetic interference effect upon navigational air space  or air navigation facilities.

Headlines:

Today's 3/27/06 Cape Cod Times story on safety hazards posed by turbines in Falmouth causing FAA to reject their proposal.

"Yarmouth leaders must now come up with alternative sites for a wind turbine project after the Federal Aviation Administration ruled that the proposed structures, within two miles of Barnstable Municipal Airport, would be a ''presumed hazard." " The FAA wrote, in a Feb. 1 letter, that the wind turbines would interfere with the airspace and radar systems near the airport."

Full story HERE:

Horicon wind farm permit on hold, could interfere with radar
WBAY, WI - 9 hours ago
That's while the federal government studies how the facility could affect a radar used by the Air Force. Wildlife groups oppose ...
 
Horicon wind farm permit on hold, could interfere with radar
Duluth News Tribune, MN - 10 hours ago
BROWNSVILLE, Wis. - A permit for a proposed wind farm in Horicon is on hold while the federal government studies how the facility ...
 
Horicon wind farm foes find unlikely ally in US Air Force
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (subscription), WI - 20 hours ago
By THOMAS CONTENT. Wildlife groups that want to block construction of a wind power project near the Horicon Marsh and its refuge ...
 
Wind Farm Setback By Federal Opposition
WEAU-TV 13, WI - Mar 22, 2006
The Federal Aviation Administration ia on record opposing placement of 87 of the 133 turbines for a wind farm near the Horicon Marsh. ...
 
Radar new issue for Horicon wind farm
The Capital Times, WI - 7 hours ago
BROWNSVILLE - A permit for a proposed wind farm in Horicon is on hold while the federal government studies how the facility could affect a radar used by the ... 

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Deep Water Wind

I have patiently waited to see if CapeCodToday would publish this story on GE's 27 million dollar deal with the U. S. Department of Energy to develop deep water wind turbines that would make Cape Wind's proposal for their off-shore wind power plant in the Nantucket Sound obsolete.  But it is obvious that this isn't going to happen.

Why not publish a story concerning state-of-the-art wind power? Is it because Cape Wind, who has been claiming The Leadership role in off-shore wind, will now look like old news and old technology, as it should?

If The People are to allow private enterprise such a foothold on public property it should be based on real solutions to real problems that can not be solved any other way and thus worth the sacrifice. But in this case Cape Wind is a giant experiment at public expense that is already passé in terms of off-shore wind technology.

Full Story on Deep Water Wind HERE:

Deep water wind technology already in the works in Europe.  See Audra Parker's (of APNS) article HERE

And then tune into NPR to hear a more balanced view of the Cape Wind debate.

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The Cape Wind Crybaby

Jim, you can stop your crybaby routine and temper tantrums, the public is finally beginning to see through you and your company's snake oil take over of public property for nothing more than personal gain. In spite of your flooding the media with your oh-so-sad and oh-so-unfair story one fact remains... This is not about YOU Jim. This is about The People and THEIR rights to safety, security and full and honest disclosure.

You can cry about unfair backroom deals, lobbyist and political leg-ups all you want but one thing remains you were the recipient of same. It is just that this time The People may very well benefit. I hope we do.

I hope the Senators and Congress men and women can see through your Cape Wind hype to the truth. And the truth is that this site is simply wrong in terms of public safety and security no matter how you slice it and attempt to belittle it by pointing fingers at the rich, as if you are not one of them. Of course, your spin is that this amendment is just another attempt to thwart you and Cape Wind. How arrogant and myopic can you get!?

And please do not pretend that this is the first time you have heard of the public safety and security issues concerning radar. We all know better than that. The fact that you choose to cite the Army Corps of Engineers DEIS as proof that there is no problem in that regard, simply proves that you thought you had it made on that issue by feeding them the company line and having it spill back out onto their DEIS. But you didn't.

It has taken an amendment to the US Coast Guard Bill to put this in front of the American People... You claim that is an unfair backroom deal but I say the opposite. I say it was the only way to stop this thing in its tracks and get the vital issue out in front of the public. And now, it is.

If you think that the Senate and the Congress is going to think this is all about YOU. I say you are wrong. The issue is safety and security. Radio interference by off shore wind turbines was not made up by the British to thwart you and your project. Of course since everything in your myopic view is about YOU,  you would think that. But how about giving thought to the Public and their safety and security for a change?

In a time of great fear and concern in this country over terrorists any interference with radar systems is totally unacceptable. Not only can radar interference adversely affect maritime safety it can also affect aviation and the very security of our country.

I find it interesting and deeply disturbing that at a time when President Bush is attempting to shove our National safety and security aside with port deals, you and your company are attempting to do the same.

In a February 15, 2005 letter to the FAA Rep. William Delahunt writes a follow up to Nancy Kalinowski's (FAA director of System Operations Airspace and Aeronautical Information Management) analysis with regards to the following finding:

"The proposed location of the (Cape Wind) wind turbines is in an area which may affect existing radar facilities supporting the National Airspace System. Two of these radars are used to support terminal surveillance services at Nantucket Memorial Airport and at the Otis Air National Guard Base. The third is a long range radar used to support en route surveillance services from North Truro, located in the northern portion of the Cape Cod National Seashore and is jointly utilized by the FAA and the Department of Defense." "Ms. Kalinowsky also stated the FAA ""has reviewed the British studies, and had begun its own comprehensive research on this matter.""

Rep. Delahunt went on to state the many US government agencies concerned about radar interference problems including the FAA, the US Air Force, our Defense Department and the Pentagon in the aftermath of the British studies. Included in this group who are not only concerned but are outrightly opposed to the off shore wind farm in the Nantucket Sound are the Martha's Vineyard Airport, the Nantucket Airport and the FAA Air Traffic Controllers.

Does Cape Wind really think they can fool all of the people all of the time with their diversionary tactics and crybaby temper tantrums at not getting their way? I think not.

And once again, it isn't ALL about YOU, Jim.

Today's News re. Cape Wind and Homeland Security

Front page news in Today's Cape Cod Times 3/10/06 Here:

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