Secretary Salazar Initiates Final Review of Cape Wind Proposal

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://interior.gov/news/09_News_Releases/010410.html

Date: January 4, 2009
Contact: Kendra Barkoff, 202-208-6416
Frank Quimby, 202-208-7291

Secretary Salazar Initiates Final Review of Cape Wind Proposal

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today issued the following statement in response to the determination by the National Park Service’s Keeper of the National Register of Historic Places that Nantucket Sound is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. The finding of eligibility ensures that significant archeological, historic and cultural values are considered in the review of the permit for the proposed Cape Wind project by the Minerals Management Service (MMS).

“America’s vast offshore wind resources offer exciting potential for our clean energy economy and for our nation’s efforts to reduce our dependence on foreign oil,” said Secretary Salazar. “But as we begin to develop these resources, we must ensure that we are doing so in the right way and in the right places.

“The Keeper’s finding that Nantucket Sound is eligible for listing in the National Register provides information that will help us to undertake final consultations and analysis of potential impacts of wind development on historic and cultural resources in Nantucket Sound.

“After several years of review, it is now time to move the Cape Wind proposal to a final decision point. That is why I am gathering the principal parties together next week to consider the findings of the Keeper and to discuss how we might find a common-sense agreement on actions that could be taken to minimize and mitigate Cape Wind’s potential impacts on historic and cultural resources. I am hopeful that an agreement among the parties can be reached by March 1. If an agreement among the parties can’t be reached, I will be prepared to take the steps necessary to bring the permit process to conclusion. The public, the parties, and the permit applicants deserve certainty and resolution.”

[DCKit]

1. If this flies, nothing "ugly" or polluting will ever again be built near any wealthy enclave.

Not much of a change, just a new tactic. Then again, it may backfire when no more mega-mansions with yacht docks and seawalls are allowed in these "Historical" districts.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

2. NIMBYs of the rich and famous...

[kristopher]

3. This is a lot more than nimby.

The primary funder for the opposition is the Koch family - Koch Industries owns more interests in oil than any other clan in this country.

The "president" of the primary opposition group (Alliance to Save Nantucket Sound) is a just retired CEO of Phelps Dodge Minerals Mining Company.

Their efforts have delayed offshore wind development in this country by 10 years. That is a big win for the fossil fuels industries.

I'm not saying there is no nimbyism, just that by itself the nimby element would have long ago collapsed. It is the massive amount of Kock fossil fuel money that is primarily responsible for the situation.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

4. Ted Kennedy also supported the effort to block it...

I was sorely disappointed by that

[joshcryer]

5. Kerry was an opponent too.

[Vogon_Glory]

10. So was Mitt Romney n/t

[joshcryer]

6. While Koch makes an interesting fall guy, it really is NIMBY elites.

The Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound has been chaired by and is supported by many multimillionaires in the region. Koch isn't the only guy running the show.

[kristopher]

8. Yes, he is - running the show, that is.

As I said, nimby is a part of the picture, but the grunt work of opposing the project is financed by Koch.

I have no love of the Kennedy's because of the damage they've done, but don't be fooled about where the real motive resides.

Wendy Williams wrote a good book on the topic if you haven't read it.

[Nathanael]

11. Koch Sources

Do you have any sources for your claim that Koch is a major financier for the opposition to Cape Wind? I would love to have another piece of information connecting this huge oil company to the fight against global warming and alternative energy.

[kristopher]

12. Google is your friend...

http://www.google.com/search?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=&=&q=koch+cape+wind&btnG=Google+Search

I'd also go to Wendy Williams' website and see what is there - of course you could also buy her book.

http://capewindbook.typepad.com/

[Nathanael]

13. The Wrong Brother

I was hoping it was Charles or David Koch who were combating the Cape Wind Project; so that Koch Industries could be linked to it. William Koch got ousted from the family company a while ago. And, although his history is tied to the company, he is not involved in any of the current actions of Koch Industries.

[kristopher]

14. Look to The Oxbow Group.

[OKIsItJustMe]

7. NY Times: For Controversial Wind Farm Off Cape Cod, Latest Hurdle Is Spiritual

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/05/science/earth/05wind.html

For Controversial Wind Farm Off Cape Cod, Latest Hurdle Is Spiritual

By ABBY GOODNOUGH
Published: January 4, 2010

BOSTON — In a new setback for a controversial wind farm proposed off Cape Cod, the National Park Service announced Monday that Nantucket Sound was eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places, guaranteeing further delays for the project.

Known as Cape Wind, the project is the nation’s first planned offshore wind farm and would cover 24 square miles in the sound, an area roughly the size of Manhattan. The park service decision came in response to a request from two Massachusetts Indian tribes, who said the 130 proposed wind turbines would thwart their spiritual ritual of greeting the sunrise, which requires unobstructed views across the sound, and disturb ancestral burial grounds.

The tribes — the Mashpee Wampanoag of Cape Cod and the Aquinnah Wampanoag of Martha’s Vineyard — sought the listing last fall, shortly before a final federal decision on the project was expected. The project has been in the works since 2001 and is strongly supported by Gov. Deval Patrick.

The decision by the National Park Service did not kill the Cape Wind plan, but it erected new hurdles by requiring more negotiations and, possibly, changes to the project, like moving it. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar set a deadline of March 1 for the tribes and the project’s developer, Energy Management Inc., to reach a compromise.

…

[Nihil]

9. Talk about scraping the bottom of the (NIMBY) barrel?!

FFS, just build the fucking thing and shut all of those bastards up.

:grr: