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Cape Wind approval hailed, but opponents consider court action

Local Native American tribes are considering the next steps in their opposition to wind turbines being installed on the Massachusetts horizon

Yesterday’s momentous decision by the US Secretary of the Interior to give the go-ahead to America’s first offshore wind project, Cape Wind, has been hailed as the start of the US offshore wind industry.

But opposition groups are now considering legal action to reverse the consent for the 468MW offshore wind project planned for Nantucket Sound, Massachusetts.

Industry and environmentalists have applauded the “forward-thinking” decision as important in creating thousands of jobs in the US.

The approval could see component manufacturers and a new operations and maintenance industry locating to the US, with the project’s turbine supplier Siemens already considering a new facility in Massachusetts, where Cape Wind will be built.

Opponents

Two local Native American tribal groups had opposed the Cape Wind project on the grounds that it would, they claimed, impact on their cultural and religious pursuits.

In a statement issued yesterday, the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) said: “We are disheartened and disappointed with Secretary Salazar’s decision to proceed with the Cape Wind project. The Tribe has no choice but to explore all of its options for relief from this decision, including injunctive relief.

“Under the advice of counsel, no further comment will be made at this time,” added the group in its statement.

Supporters of the Cape Wind project urged opponents to work constructively with the project developers.

Lobby group Clean Power Now and Massachusetts think tank Civil Society Institute warned that further lawsuits and “other stalling tactics” would “delay the inevitable and cost taxpayers millions of dollars”.

Pam Solo, the Institute’s president, said: “Cape Wind will bring jobs and manufacturing, as well as genuinely clean energy. A new offshore wind industry in America is launched today with this decision, which is a huge boost for the U.S. on the regional and national levels.

“This is an enormous accomplishment and is as much a victory for citizen participation as it is for clean energy.”

Industry

Wind industry experts said the decision by Interior Secretary Ken Salazar yesterday would demonstrate to other offshore wind developers that securing regulatory approval for projects in the US is possible.

America needs offshore wind power.  And with this project, Massachusetts leads the Nation.” - Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick

The wind industry’s trade association, the AWEA, said the US offshore wind industry could now learn lessons from 20 years of offshore wind farms in Europe to provide renewable energy along the East Coast and in the Great Lakes.

Denise Bode, chief executive of the American Wind Energy Association, said: “American manufacturers have announced plans to build factories in Europe to service the robust offshore wind industry there. With policy support in the America we can incent that new manufacturing sector to build here.

“As Secretary Salazar said himself this January, there is a bright future for offshore wind in this country,” Ms Bode added.

The National Oceans Industries Association – a trade association of the offshore sector in the US – called Sec. Salazar’s decision a “bold step” toward a new domestic offshore wind industry.

NOIA President Randall Luthi said: “The project has the potential to generate hundreds of new jobs in the New England region, and once operational, provide clean source electricity to Cape Cod.”

States

Ken Salazar (left) met with Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick (center) before announcing his decision on Cape Wind

Massachusetts and Rhode Island’s state governors both welcomed the Cape Wind approval, again highlighting the economic and environmental benefits of the project.

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick said: “Mr. Secretary, on behalf of the hundreds of men and women who will build this project, the thousands of Massachusetts citizens who will benefit from stable electric rates, and the millions of Americans whose security and prosperity depend on energy independence, thank you for this decision.

“America needs offshore wind power.  And with this project, Massachusetts leads the Nation.”

Govenor Carcieri of Rhode Island, which is currently preparing a Request for Information to seek a developer for a large offshore wind project in its waters, said Cape Wind would benefit the entire region of Southeastern New England.

He said: “While it’s unfortunate that it took nine years for the project to be approved, I am very appreciative of the Secretary’s commitment to work with Rhode Island, Massachusetts and a number of other coastal states to expedite the permitting and regulatory process going forward.”