69 State Legislators urge defeat of Anti-wind farm Amendment

Cape's Matt Patrick leads the Massachusetts' plea to save the wind farm

Sixty-nine Members of the Massachusetts Legislature, made up of members from both Chambers and political parties including Senate and House Committee Chairs, sent a letter today to the U.S. Congress stating their opposition to the anti-Cape Wind provision that was attached in Conference to the Coast Guard Reauthorization Act.

State Reps Matt Patrick and Frank Smizik

The Letter was prepared by Frank I. Smizik, Chairman of the House Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture and Representative of the 15th Norfolk District who said, “This letter makes it perfectly clear that there is substantial support for Cape Wind in the Massachusetts Legislature and strong opposition to the move in Congress by the Alaskan delegation to interfere with Massachusetts energy policies.”

Many of the Massachusetts State Senators and Representative signing the letter felt compelled to take this step after four of the ten United States Congressmen from the Bay State announced last week that they were going to vote for the Coast Guard Reauthorization Bill with the Stevens amendment still attached. Local House and Senate members tend to be much closer to the local voters than Washington office holders are.

Location objections derided

The letter made a point of debunking the Alaska delegation claims stating that "the 24 square mile Horseshoe Shoals area in Nantucket Sound is very shallow.  Commercial fishing in draggers and ferry traffic are impossible in this area.  Any vessel with more than a 2 foot draft attempting to navigate these waters would run aground.  As navigation in the area by commercial vessels is not possible, allegations of safety hazards created by the wind farm are misplaced."

"Any vessel with more than a 2 foot draft attempting to navigate these waters would run aground" The letter

“In Massachusetts, the Legislature has assigned the authority to approve major energy proposals to the Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Board, and not to the Governor, in light of the special public interest in maintaining adequate energy supplies”, Smizik continued.

Chairman Smizik also said, “The Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Board approved Cape Wind’s application last year based on the finding that it would reduce energy prices, reduce air pollution, provide needed power and help Massachusetts fulfill our policy mandate for more renewable energy.” 

“Alaskan Senator Ted Stevens last week stated on the Senate Floor that he was pushing his anti-Cape Wind provision to protect Massachusetts and its citizens – today we are sending a resounding message back to Washington that Stevens’ move is against the wishes of the Massachusetts Legislature and of the overwhelming majority of Massachusetts citizens,” Smizik continued. 

“Stevens’ move is against the wishes of the Massachusetts Legislature and of the overwhelming majority of Massachusetts citizens"
- Chairman Smizik

He added, “Our citizens want reliable, affordable, clean energy and Cape Wind can provide it.”

Local Rep instrumental in effort

Matt Patrick, Representative of the 3rd Barnstable District which includes the shoreline nearest to the proposed offshore wind turbines, said, "We would be remiss if we let the gross inaccuracies from the opponents of the Cape Wind project justify the illicit amendment to kill the project.” 

Patrick continued, “The allegations from the opposition cannot be documented.  The review process involving 18 agencies and numerous public hearings over the past 4 years have documented the positive benefits of the project in direct contradiction to the allegations from opponents.”  “Let the process go forward and if Cape Wind survives based on its merits, it should not be subject to the arbitrary whims of the Governor”, Patrick continued.

Last week, the State House News Service reported the results of their statewide poll of Massachusetts voters that found 71% support Cape Wind and only 17% oppose it.

You can read the entire letter here.

Read the full press release here.