Cape & Islands News

McCain endorses Cape Wind

Presidential candidate John McCain comes out in favor of wind farm 
Speaking in New Hampshire, describes himself as "strong supporter"

Updated, 6:30 p.m. Sunday after McCain touts wind farm live on C-SPAN

By Jack Coleman, capecodtoday.com 

US Senator John McCain has become the first Republican presidential candidate to endorse the Cape Wind project proposed for Nantucket Sound.

McCain was approached by this reporter after he spoke last night at a town hall forum in Amherst, N.H. (as shown in photo). Asked if he supported the Cape Wind project, McCain said that "absolutely I'm for it," describing himself as a "strong supporter."

 "Except for the fact that maybe it spoils somebody's view," McCain said, a clear allusion to Senator Edward Kennedy's opposition to Cape Wind, "what in the world would you be opposed to it for?"

McCain becomes the second major presidential candidate to endorse Cape Wind, following on the heels of Democrat Bill Richardson, who expressed his support during a fundraiser in Boston last month.

McCain was instrumental last year in thwarting an effort by Kennedy, aided by Alaskan Senator Ted Stevens and Congressman Don Young (architects of the infamous "Bridge to Nowhere") in their attempt to derail Cape Wind through backroom machinations in Congress.

McCain's position on Cape Wind  puts him at odds with fellow GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney, a former Bay State governor who opposes the wind farm.

Speaking Saturday afternoon at the "Global Warming and Energy Solutions" conference in Manchester, N.H., McCain described the energy policies he would pursue as president, as did Richardson when he addressed the conference on Friday.

At one point in his remarks, McCain said of alternative energy that "everyone loves wind, everyone loves solar, everyone loves tidal," according to Barbara Hill, executive director of the pro-wind farm non-profit Clean Power Now.

When it came time for questions, Hill pointed out that "well-funded" efforts by the Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound had sought for years to derail the project.  But Cape Wind was also supported by many thousands of people, she said. Are you in favor of Cape Wind?

 "I'm in support of that," McCain responded, according to Hill, drawing robust applause from those at the conference. "I'm sorry if it spoils someone's waterview."

McCain reiterated his support for Cape Wind during a campaign stop Sunday afternoon in Hopkinton, N.H., an appearance broadcast live on C-SPAN. McCain wasted little time in focusing on two major issues - climate change and US reliance on foreign oil.

"I'm for wind, I'm for tide, I'm for solar," McCain said, as broadcast by C-SPAN. "By the way, I'm also for that wind project up off Cape Cod as well."

McCain added a caveat that could prove problematic for many environmentalists. While "all of those sources of energy need to be developed," he said, referring to renewables, "I think at this moment in time, nuclear would make a great contribution."

"The fact is, nuclear power is an integral and vital part of any improvement that we are going to make in reducing greenhouse gas emissions," McCain said.

As for climate change, he said, "I'll be glad to continue the debate with people who don't believe that it's real, and that discussion needs to go on, and I respect it, but shouldn't we do what Tony Blair said and err on the side of caution? And there are a lot of things we can do without you having to put on a sweater and shiver in the dark this winter." 

McCain also warned of a "perfect storm" brewing from American overreliance on oil from abroad. "We have got to reduce our dependency on foreign oil," he said. "It is an absolute national security requirement." 

Eighteen months ago, McCain said, terrorists were thwarted before attacking an oil refinery in Saudi Arabia. "I'm told by experts that if that suicide bomber attack had succeeded, oil would have gone to $150 a barrel overnight," he said. "Now we cannot afford this kind of vulnerability."    

Jack Coleman is an editor, reporter and blogger at capecodtoday.com and former media adviser to Clean Power Now; photo credit, Jack Coleman.