Kate Sheppard asks a good question: Why is John Kerry STILL not backing Cape Winds?

[beachmom]

http://motherjones.com/politics/2009/12/john-kerry-cape-wind

Blowing In The Wind

Cape Wind, the bitterly contested proposed offshore wind farm in Massachusetts’ Nantucket Sound, is approaching a critical juncture. After eight years of delays, the project will likely be approved or denied before the end of 2009. If it proceeds, the 24-square-mile, 130-turbine wind farm could generate enough electricity to power 420,000 homes—and kick-start an offshore wind industry in the United States.

But opposition to the project has been fierce, and Cape Wind needs all the help it can get. So where is the state's senior senator? John Kerry is among Capitol Hill's most ardent advocates of addressing climate change, but he has refused to weigh in on one of the most significant debates over the future of alternative energy—and one that’s occurring in his own backyard.

This is ridiculous. I thought he didn't say anything before because of Ted Kennedy. But even now, he looks pretty bad here. Apparently, the Kennedy family still has a grip on him. And don't give me the "birds" argument. This thing has passed every reporting phase thus far. Markey, btw, HAS endorsed the project.

According to sources close to the project, Kerry's reluctance to weigh in on Cape Wind stems from continued deference to the Kennedy family. But the majority of Democratic politicians in the state have now embraced the project. All four of the Democratic candidates vying to fill Kennedy's seat support it, as does Gov. Deval Patrick and the majority of the state legislature.

In an email statement from Kerry to Mother Jones, he said he is not yet ready to make an announcement on Cape Wind. "I support wind technology, and I want more renewable energy powering more homes in Massachusetts, not less, and I'm talking with leaders in the state and at the federal level about this, and I'll have more discussions in Massachusetts with my constituents before I make a final announcement," he said.

But in a 2007 posting about the "controversy" on his website, Kerry suggested he was no fan of the proposal. "You can't just have someone plunk something down wherever the hell they want," Kerry wrote, questioning "whether this is the best location."

Sorry, John Kerry looks like a total hypocrite here. There is no PERFECT place for renewable energy projects. Clearly, he doesn't want to piss off his friends, and is willing to throw his principles aside for it. That is wrong, and good for Mother Jones to call him out on it.

I am extremely disappointed that he is continuing to not endorse this project. If Massachusetts can't get this done, then who can?

[Mass]

1. Sorry, I oppose cape winds. So, I will not blame him for taking his time.

He may be opposing it for the wrong reasons, but Cape Wind is not the good project some would want to say. It is amazing that a lefty paper like Mother Jones does not get that projects like Cape Wind are just huge corporate projects that will give to corporations a huge power on something we all need (and next we know, we will be fighting these companies the same way we fight Exxon now).

The problem is that people think that you need to support a farm wind because it is a farm wind. I thought that the Pickens process would have shown us that every farm wind project is not worth doing. Here, we have a project where a company would get huge state and federal subvention, but the state would get very little in return, and certainly no advantage on how to manage our energy needs. There were projects that would have needed a lot less public money, would have given a lot more flexibilities to towns and counties, and allow a more sustainable process. It is one of the reason I supported the Lt General in his bid (hell, somebody who understands that big is not necessarily good).

Once again, I doubt these are the reasons Senator Kerry is not going to give his support to the project, but at least, he is not ready to sign on that, and I am not going to criticize him on that.

[Mass]

5. Oops. I was tired, I guess. I meant wind farm, not farm wind.

[beachmom]

9. Well, that's the thing. John Kerry does not mind a corporation doing this.

He has not said one word against the project in the manner you discuss. What he has done is procrastinate saying ANYTHING about it, and saying he will wait for Report X to make a decision, and then when that report comes out he says, oh wait until Report Y comes out.

I don't share your views on corporations because to me that is normally who runs utilities, at least for electricity. Every state I have lived in has had private corporations running the utilities with the exception of water/sewers. But I respect that that is how you feel.

Again, though, John Kerry is against this project for unknown reasons, one of which we know is Kennedy NIMBY issues. If he wants to come out and say he is against it, then fine, do it. Instead he sits on the sidelines. I think he will not weigh an opinion until after it will be approved or disapproved.

Completely stupid, IMHO.

[Mass]

13. As I said, I know it is probably not why Kerry is not giving his opinion on this.

But I am not going to get outraged by the fact that he is not in the wagon supporting it.

BTW, he has said why he was not supporting it: good governance. Since this project has been launched 8 years ago, all its supporters wanted (including carbon based energy companies that want the project to start so that they have an argument to start their own project in other natural sites that are preserved) was that the project was accepted with as little study as possible. Senator Kerry has pushed in order for the studies to be done correctly.

Here is a pretty good article that supports the project, but explains all that is behind. This is what we are talking about, and the first project better be done properly or we are going toward another episode of robber barons.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10392309-54.html

Currently, the project is stopped because Wampanoags tribes says the sound is their territory. So, the point is simple: people can be mad at Kerry not coming NOW for the project, but, if it was something else that a wind project being done in this condition, the same people would be in arms against it being done this way.

[MBS]

2. sorry, I'm with Mass on this one

We've been through all these arguments many time before, but to summarize:
1. This is NOT a black-and-white issue of pro-wind vs. anti-wind energy. Many committed, knowledgeable, and thoughtful environmentalists, committed to development of alternative energy, are against this project,. because of SITING and SIZE of project . not just NIMBY stuff, but real issues of environmental impact. I am totally disappointed by the segments of the left who have taken an absolutist, simplistic "for us or against us" approach to this issue.
2. Also, note that this is a for-profit project. If you think that the developer is pushing this solely for altruistic reasons, think again. (Mass has already explained this, and I agree).
3.Also, Even "good" energy projects, like wind, need thorough environmental review, especially big projects. Especially important as this would be the largest wind project ever built on east coast. Very important to be done right.
These are real issues. I have personally witnessed unexpected prob lems that can arise. . everyone was excited about wind project in Altamont Pass in CA, until migratory birds and raptors started flying into the blades. .There are additional tricky, and very valid issues to be considered with regard to off-shore siting .
4. Many of aforementioned environmentalists (#1) would prefer numerous smaller-scale,thoughtfully sited projects rather than giant project of this type. I think they're right.
5. By the way, Governor Patrick is not an environmentalist -- he's not particularly knowledgeable, and he's not particularly committed to these issues -- so his strong support for Cape Wind isn't persuasive to me at all (in fact, if anything, his support raises more alarm bells in my mind).
6. I was very, very pleased to see Paul Kirk take an intelligent stand on this . His message makes total sense to me, and I hope that Obama (who's not particularly astute on environmental stuff) has the good sense to heed Kirk's words)
http://www.boston.com/news/science/articles/2009/11/28/patrick_appointee_takes_opposing_stance_on_cape_wind_project/

In a letter to Obama earlier this month, Kirk, who has largely shied away from divisive issues during his two months in office, urged the Obama administration to hold off on a decision until a federal panel can devise comprehensive guidelines for development in the nation’s waters.

I don't believe that Kerry has been cautious just for the sake of the Kennedys. John Kerry is RIGHT to be cautious, and to let the environmental review (hopefully, a thoughtful, thorough review) take its course. I am behind him 1000%.
This is not a matter of hypocrisy; it's a matter of prudence and smarts.

[MBS]

3. a blog comment on online Globe article

currently, the second comment after the article. .(first one isn't bad, either). I don't understand the blind support, either.

http://www.boston.com/news/science/articles/2009/11/28/patrick_appointee_takes_opposing_stance_on_cape_wind_project/?comments=all

MaryS wrote:
I can't understand why Massachusetts pols like Patrick and Markey blindly support a special interest project that involves converting public property to private use without proper compensation or proper consideration of the damage done to a precious natural asset like Nantucket Sound. We are not going to work ourselves to energy independence by getting in bed with the latest set of exploiters . .

[Mass]

4. Thanks for posting this. I missed it.

It drive me crazy when people do not consider the real implications of projects like Cape Wind. In 10 years, we will be whining that a few companies control wind energy and are too powerful and able to decide pricing. There needs to be a policy in place.

[MBS]

7. " " " " " " " "n/t

[karynnj]

10. It is so good to have people like you and Mass here to explain

these things. I trust both of your different knowledge on this subject.

It would be very disheartening if it were simply friendship with the Kennedys behind it - and so at variance with both his and Teresa'a deeply held beliefs.

[Luftmensch067]

6. Speaking as someone who knows absolutely nothing about this

I have more trust in Mass and MBS and Senator Kerry on this than "sources close to the project." I'm weighing in from my position of ignorance only to add my "feeling" that this developer has used a lot of underhanded methods to put pressure on state politicians. I've seen some of these people (Cape Wind activists) at a couple of JK's Faneuil Hall speeches, and I get the overwhelming impression that their concern for profit far outweighs their environmental altruism. There's something very fishy about the Cape Wind campaign, in my uninformed opinion. JK may end up supporting it, but I truly believe him when he says he doesn't feel it's been adequately vetted.

I don't in any way think he is a hypocrite who would stand in the way of a legitimate opportunity to support renewable energy and MA jobs simply out of deference to the Kennedys. That may have been one of the factors, how do I know, but my perception of JK is that he has way more integrity than to have that be the only factor. Maybe I'm wrong, but I'd have to see proof to make me believe that he would betray his own passionate ideals to that extent. If he says he's still talking to people and making his decision, then, as far as I'm concerned, he is.

[MBS]

8. "very fishy" is right!

in at least two senses ;-):D

[beachmom]

11. You can't trust John Kerry because he hasn't taken a position.

I think he is largely for it, but doesn't want to upset his friends in Nantucket. Maybe some of them have done a lot for him, made contributions, etc. But seeing that he has not truly weighed in on it, that is all we have to work with in understanding his non-position.

I disagree with the others in this thread because there is the idea that this is a bad project and we should wait for a better one. Newsflash: there isn't going to be another one. If this fails, it's over. No one else would dare try after this 10 year debacle.

So Mass. will continue to use CO2 producing energy, and really can't act superior to the Southeast, when they are unwilling to make the investment in alternative energy. At least Georgia is honest: it wants nuclear energy and that is what it is going to build. It doesn't pretend it is for alternative energy and then turn against it because conditions are not ideal.

For me this is black and white because the planet is in peril and is not going to wait around for perfect siting.

As to being an "expert", well I am not. But I have read enough, and heard the contrasting opinions to form my own opinion.

[Luftmensch067]

12. I will never say never

If this is a bad project, it's a bad project. I don't think anyone on this board knows for sure. But presuming the worst of Senator Kerry's motives just doesn't make sense to me, given what I've observed of how he operates.

If Cape Wind is a bad project and a better alternative does present itself at some point, I refuse to believe that a better project will have no chance. One of the reasons I so admire JK is that he is seldom defeatist and, often he proves that doing what is right is not impossible. This organization may be utterly biased, but it does provide another point of view. http://www.saveoursound.org/site/PageServer

I believe that there's as much ingenuity and potential in the state of MA as John Kerry always says there is. There's no need to settle for something if it is, in fact, not right for the environment or for local communities.

It will be interesting to see if JK does express an opinion on this, but I simply do not buy the idea that his discretion implies only hypocrisy and cronyism.

[beachmom]

14. Well, let's assume that you are right, and that Kerry is feeling skeptical

of the project for purely altruistic reasons. Would you not agree that politically he has done a poor job in explaining why his position is what it is? From an outsider looking in, it looks like favoring rich friends in Nantucket. Maybe that is harsh and untrue, but that is the perception. I fear on a national level, that Fox News & friends could successfully hurt JK's credibility as the chief negotiator for the climate bill by highlighting his local position in Mass. being at odds with his position on a bill that will affect all Americans, not just in Mass. This looks bad, and that needs to be fixed ASAP.

As a longtime supporter, I try to give the benefit of the doubt, but despite impassioned responses in this thread, I remain unconvinced that this is not powerful people in Nantucket having their way with the Senator. It looks that way to me and to Kate Sheppard, a very fair environmental journalist for Mother Jones. How do you think this is going to look to the average Joe?

[Luftmensch067]

15. I can't help how it looks to Mother Jones, the GOP or the average Joe (hopefully not the Plumber)

All I can tell you is that I trust John Kerry on this. If he's not saying everything Mother Jones wants him to, that doesn't mean he's not thinking the issue through critically and still making up his mind or, if he has made up his mind, maybe there's something about the situation that we don't know about which he's not at liberty to talk about at the moment. I don't know what the truth is because I don't have the privilege of asking him about it. I only know that his past actions have made me trust him to follow his principles rather than to sell out the state he represents for cronyism.

[cadmium]

16. I read the article and found it superficial.

Sent off a quick and probably sloppy comment in response:

"Katherine: you state that turbines will be located 14 miles off shore. The original hard&fast proposals (read demands) by CapeWind were 5-6 miles off shore. IF you are correct in your statement that they are to be located 14 miles off shore, that is probably a result of difficult negotiations over several years.

The permitting process is completed. There is a suit pending by the Wampanoag tribe. This week National Grid has agreed to buy their power, but now they are haggling over the price. It is a big step but I believe the two sides are still far apart.

There is hesitation in Massachusetts to send a private company more money without better safeguards. Massachusetts is still smarting from subsidizing Evergreen Solar with 58 million dollars only to have them move their solar panel manufacturing from Mass to China this year.

Kerry did his job to keep Cape Wind alive by blocking Congressional legislation to give Gov Romney executive power to kill the project in a Coast Guard appropriations bill in 2006. These are local, business, and regulatory issues now. The author taking swipes at Kerry's limited role now seems mostly gratuitous.

Cape Wind should ultimately go through." anonymous