After discussing in a previous message the prospects of offshore drilling along the U.S. coasts, I wanted to explore the problematic of offshore wind power development and understand the current barriers to its take-off in the U.S. A good start was Cape Wind by W. Williams and R. Whitcomb which tells the story of "America's first offshore wind mills." (See Cape Wind project website)
The book opens on a 2001 public hearing meeting hold on a proposal to build a large electrical-generation project in the so-called "Nantucket Sound" area (Massachusetts, 150 km south Boston). The project is promoted by the company Cape Wind Associates and aims to install wind turbines along the coast of "Cape Cod," the elected area of the American east coast elite.
The book opens on a 2001 public hearing meeting hold on a proposal to build a large electrical-generation project in the so-called "Nantucket Sound" area (Massachusetts, 150 km south Boston). The project is promoted by the company Cape Wind Associates and aims to install wind turbines along the coast of "Cape Cod," the elected area of the American east coast elite.
Chapter 1 introduces some key characters: historian David McCullough, one of the strongest opponents to the project (but relatively absent in the rest of the book), and Jim Gordon, president of Cape Wind Associates. Jim Gordon is depicted as an energy entrepreneur who might partain to the same category than James Jackson Storrow (Chapter 3). The battle of Cape Wind reflects the best and the worst in the development of large scale renewable energy projects, between green leadership and NIMBY reactions. "Jim Gordon’s bid idea was bold, breathtaking, even brash, just the sort of project that used to be associated with American entrepreneurship. But it was getting harder to introduce such ideas in a nation that had become increasingly dominated by an entrenched plutocracy that had little, if any, sense of national or global responsibility. America used to be a nation of bold ideas, but by the twenty-first century, some had begun to wonder whether genuine visionaries might do better in some other nation" (at xxiv).
"Jim Gordon’s Big Idea" is in fact the title of Chapter 1 which details the gestation of the project and puts it in the context of Cape Code. It draws parallels with the Danish experience, the success of Vestas, the need to "repower" onshore (i.e. replacing the aging wind mills by new and bigger ones) and the quest to offshore wind parks. "Offshore wind seemed to provide so many answers" (at 15). It also retraces the mobilisation of local and national convinced people in all sectors of the potential of renewables, from the electric industry to Boston Globe journalists.
This enthusiasm is balanced by the influence of the power elite, the Kennedy Family, who would have been positive to the project if it would have not been in their favourite sailing area. Here, the book mixes local Cap Code anecdotes, U.S. energy development history and the required quota of political thrill (see also Chapter 6 describing the passion of Matt Patrick, Massachusetts state representative).
The question of wildlife protection and environmental consequences is dealt in Chapter 4 ("Birds, Fish, and Whales") under the possible qualification of Nantucket Sound as a national-sanctuary status. It fells however short in treating in details environmental impact requirements. The links could also be strengthened with Chapter 9 ("The Buzzards Bay Oil Spill") on a 100,000 gallon spill of super thick toxic number 6 oil in the estuary west of Cap Code.
The book continues describing lobbying, media opposition and political fights at the federal state level. "Unable to make Jim Gordon go away, the Kennedy family decided to take their case to the nation" (at 117). Here, both Greenpeace leader John Passacantando and Ted Kennedy are involved to a great extent. In particular, Greenpeace succeeded in attracting public mobilization and opposition around the so-called "Tide Turns" bill against the "Coast guard" bill (regarding who can veto the project during the permit procedure). "Americans wanted change – big-time change, not just talk – an they wanted leadership. Jim Gordon and his ambitious Cape Wind proposal fit the (Tide Turns) bill. It had become a symbol of moving forward, out of the national energy morass." (at 291) The book concludes by describing the installation of the second wind turbine in late July 2006.
References: Cape Wind: money, celebrity, class, politics, and the battle for our energy future on Nantucket Sound, by Wendy Williams and Robert Whitcomb (PublicAffairs New York, 2007)
"Jim Gordon’s Big Idea" is in fact the title of Chapter 1 which details the gestation of the project and puts it in the context of Cape Code. It draws parallels with the Danish experience, the success of Vestas, the need to "repower" onshore (i.e. replacing the aging wind mills by new and bigger ones) and the quest to offshore wind parks. "Offshore wind seemed to provide so many answers" (at 15). It also retraces the mobilisation of local and national convinced people in all sectors of the potential of renewables, from the electric industry to Boston Globe journalists.
This enthusiasm is balanced by the influence of the power elite, the Kennedy Family, who would have been positive to the project if it would have not been in their favourite sailing area. Here, the book mixes local Cap Code anecdotes, U.S. energy development history and the required quota of political thrill (see also Chapter 6 describing the passion of Matt Patrick, Massachusetts state representative).
The question of wildlife protection and environmental consequences is dealt in Chapter 4 ("Birds, Fish, and Whales") under the possible qualification of Nantucket Sound as a national-sanctuary status. It fells however short in treating in details environmental impact requirements. The links could also be strengthened with Chapter 9 ("The Buzzards Bay Oil Spill") on a 100,000 gallon spill of super thick toxic number 6 oil in the estuary west of Cap Code.
The book continues describing lobbying, media opposition and political fights at the federal state level. "Unable to make Jim Gordon go away, the Kennedy family decided to take their case to the nation" (at 117). Here, both Greenpeace leader John Passacantando and Ted Kennedy are involved to a great extent. In particular, Greenpeace succeeded in attracting public mobilization and opposition around the so-called "Tide Turns" bill against the "Coast guard" bill (regarding who can veto the project during the permit procedure). "Americans wanted change – big-time change, not just talk – an they wanted leadership. Jim Gordon and his ambitious Cape Wind proposal fit the (Tide Turns) bill. It had become a symbol of moving forward, out of the national energy morass." (at 291) The book concludes by describing the installation of the second wind turbine in late July 2006.
References: Cape Wind: money, celebrity, class, politics, and the battle for our energy future on Nantucket Sound, by Wendy Williams and Robert Whitcomb (PublicAffairs New York, 2007)
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