Nantucket Group Responds To Op-ed
Don’t be misled by the inflated promises of Cape Wind’s public relations people — construction of this flawed and overpriced project is nowhere near ready to go, and likely never will be. For the sake of all of you who would have to pay for this massive energy Big Dig if it is allowed to go forward, the half-truths and exaggerations made in Mark Rodgers’ op-ed ("The Trickle-Down Effect of Cape Wind," Jan. 3, 2011) need to be addressed.
First, the high cost of Cape Wind — projected at more than $2 billion — would force ratepayers to pay more than twice as much as they should for renewable energy. That alone is already leading cities and towns, big businesses and small, as well as angry homeowners to say, “No” to Cape Wind. The cost is particularly outrageous considering there are numerous renewable alternatives available right here in New England for a fraction of the cost of Cape Wind — a reality that Cape Wind and its State House enablers continue to ignore.
Dollars & Cents
The proposed Cape Wind contract price starts at 19 cents per kilowatt hour — double the cost of land-based wind. Over the 15 year life of this contract, which includes a guaranteed annual increase of 3.5 percent, Massachusetts consumers would pay a green-energy premium of $4 billion. Stores, hospitals, businesses and residents of Worcester and Central Massachusetts would face rising energy bills all for the benefit of a private sector developer. This unwarranted premium promises to make times even tougher, further burden businesses and lead to job losses as businesses already struggling to make ends meet shut their doors or move to lower cost states.
While cost will almost surely stop this project, that is not the only hurdle Cape Wind faces. Eleven different appeals and lawsuits have already been filed against Cape Wind citing astronomical costs to residents and commercial entities, failure to explore less expensive renewable energy options, and violations of numerous federal laws. Four lawsuits have been filed against the U.S. Department. Two lawsuits have been filed against the Federal Aviation Administration and five different parties have appealed the Department of Public Utilities approval of Cape Wind’s pricey contract to sell half its power to National Grid.
By the time these outstanding legal issues are resolved, it is still unlikely Cape Wind will have another buyer or the financing in place necessary to build. If Cape Wind continues to fail to sell the other half of its projected output, who is going to loan billions of dollars to a company that can’t sell its overpriced product?
Considering the looming legal battles, the lack of financing or a second buyer, and overwhelming public dismay, it’s evident that Cape Wind has a long way to go.
In 2010, Cape Wind received its rubber stamp from the Patrick administration, but 2011 could very easily be the year it goes away once and for all.
Audra Parker is the executive director and CEO of The Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound.
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