Kerry and Capewind

[Mass]

I just spotted that on BMG and it seems to me a good question. Has Kerry taken a clear position at this point concerning Cape Wind.

Now, I happen to disagree with Cap Wind, largely because the project is not clean, and ends up giving a lot of subventions to big entities without a lot of counterparts. I also disagree with it because it is still big industry, in a time where more localized options should be investigated.

However, Kerry is a leader when it comes to clean energy. Whatever his position on Cape Wind (for or against), it is probably time for him to take a position and to make the argument for or against the wind farm.


http://bluemassgroup.com/userDiary.do?personId=3106

Kerry is out of excuses. Time to tell Sir Ted he's on his own. - promoted by Bob)

Senator, you claimed during remarks yesterday at a forum organized by the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the Brookings Institution that the missing ingredient to fix the major problem of climate change has been "leadership, leadership, leadership." I couldn't agree with you more.

National leadership and support has been severely lacking for the Cape Wind project - a project of transcendent importance that would reduce carbon dioxide emission, a key greenhouse gas, by 733,876 tons per year, which is equivalent to taking 175,000 automobiles off the road each year. It could launch an offshore wind industry right here in Massachusetts and set the stage for a staggering 30,000 jobs. Five major state and federal reports have concluded that the Cape Wind project has minimal to negligible environmental and socio-economic impacts and significant public interest benefits.

Cape Wind is more than just one single project as it serves as a symbol not only of energy independence but independence from the politics as usual. Four times there have been back door maneuverings to stop this project from moving fully through the review process and each time at the last minute those attempts were defeated. They were defeated by a combination of grassroots efforts, labor support and environmental voices all saying if this project passes regulatory muster than it must proceed.

You were quoted in the October 2008 Brockton Enterprise article, "Kerry Poised to Support Cape Wind Project" saying, "My view on Cape Wind is very simple. I'm all for wind power. If the EIS comes back approving it, I'm all for it." You promised that upon issuance of a positive FEIS you would come out in support of the project.

It's been seven weeks since the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) was issued on the Cape Wind project giving it the "Good Housekeeping" seal of approval.

It's been five weeks since I sent a letter to you Senator asking that you keep your promise and speak out in support of Cape Wind. Seize the opportunity for leadership, leadership, leadership Senator.

Barbara Hill
Executive Director
Clean Power Now
www.cleanpowernow.org

[beachmom]

1. Great diary at BMG.

Mass, you have laid out compelling reasons to oppose Cape Winds. But Kerry has only said, wait until the reports come back. In the end, that was all about procrastinating pissing off Ted Kennedy.

I think John Kerry needs to say he supports it now. Of course, that has been my position for over a year now.

[karynnj]

3. I agree with everything you said

and agree that the reason was likely procrastinating in angering Kennedy - which has backfired as I would bet that it is now incredibly harder harder for Kerry to do given Kennedy's health. I doubt he would do anything right now that could hurt Kennedy - even if Kennedy is wrong. The BMG diary itself has something about the others being willing to stand up after the inevitable happens.

The sad thing is that Kerry should have been using/enhancing his credibility by acting as an honest reviewer of the plan - bringing up issues like Mass's - if he agrees with them and stating where he sees the trade off between the good and bad here. (That I read all the things he said on blogger calls and at the book signing event as well as in news stories and don't know where he really stands is not good.

[MBS]

2. I'm happy for him to take as long as it takes to make a thoughtful

decision. There has been WAY too much black-and-white thinking polluting (pun intended) this issue. I remember reading that there are still some Coast Guard issues regarding navigational interference.

This is a HUGE project-- by far the largest on the Eastern seaboard-- and it's entirely appropriate to make sure that all the i's are dotted and the t's crosse before plunging ahead.

I am drawing on my witnessing of the problems in California where people learned about unintended side effects (on migratory bird paths and raptor nesting) the hard way.

[karynnj]

4. If there are still issues, that makes the diary wrong

I agree it has to well thought out, but I do wish that Kerry would explain what things are no longer possible problems and what still needs investigation - and how that is progressing. If he has any of the typr of concerns Mass mentioned, he needs to speak of them.