Hundreds Attend Cape Wind Hearings

Hundreds of people attended four public hearings this week at several Cape Cod locations to hear or make comments about the draft environmental impact statement for the proposed Cape Wind energy- towers project in Nantucket Sound.

Many were longtime residents with roots going back at least hundreds of years. Others had come from New York to speak as seasonal residents. And there were the guest speakers, flown in to speak on behalf of Clean Power Now, Stop Wind and the Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound, all coalitions that have taken a pro or con position on the project.

The hearings were held about the draft environmental impact statement prepared by the federal Minerals Management Service. The agency is one of the federal regulatory offices reviewing the project and expects to issue a final report later this year.

Jim Gordon, president of Cape Wind Associates, said that the wind turbines his company is proposing for Nantucket Sound are an important start on addressing global warming. The project includes 130 wind turbines on Horseshoe Shoal.

Many environmental groups agree, but opponents say the turbines would harm fishing, transportation safety and birds as well as being an eyesore in a popular recreation area.

Fishing captain Edward Barrett told the hearing that the windmills would interfere with fishing gear and navigation.

But Martin Aikens of the electrical workers’ union said it would generate thousands of jobs.

Among the pro-wind speakers was a principal of Blue H USA, who announced a company proposal to put 120 floating wind turbines in deep water 23 miles offshore.

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