Cape Wind Comments on Draft Environmental Impact Statement
In 2001, Cape Wind Associates proposed to build a 130-turbine wind farm in federal waters in Nantucket Sound. If built, the Cape Wind project would be the first of its kind in the United States. On average, Cape Wind could generate enough renewable energy to meet 75 percent of Cape Cod's daily electricity needs—up to 454 megawatts of power. The wind farm proposal has been undergoing a comprehensive environmental and public interest review. The Army Corps of Engineers (ACoE) is leading this review process, along with 16 other federal and state agencies. Recently the ACoE released its Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)/Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the project.
We are quite encouraged by the Draft EIS/EIR's findings regarding the project's benefits and potential impacts. These findings include significant positive socioeconomic, public health, and environmental benefits. The draft also concludes that the majority of the other potential impacts examined will be minor, temporary, localized, mitigated in project design or construction, or will not occur.
Developing New England's renewable resources frees us from the risks and damage caused by coal, oil, natural gas, and nuclear power while keeping money and jobs in our region. Offshore wind offers significant potential for clean, safe renewable energy in the region. If the scientific, technical, and economic conclusions of the draft impact statement are supported in final report, UCS believes the Cape Wind project should go forward.
Massachusetts and New England will benefit from the Cape Wind Project
If built, the Cape Wind project will contribute significantly to addressing many of the major problems our current electricity system poses. The Draft EIS/EIR's findings on socioeconomic impacts include $1.5–2 billion in economic benefits to the U.S. economy, New England consumer savings on electricity bills of $25 million per year during the first five years of operation ($10 million for Massachusetts consumers), decreased costs associated with adverse health impacts from fossil fuel plants of $53 million per year, and almost 400 full-time new jobs created directly or indirectly due to the project.
Based on the results of the Draft EIS/EIR, Cape Wind will also:
- serve as a physical and economic hedge against the region's vulnerability to over-dependence on natural gas to generate electricity;
- make compliance with renewable energy standards more cost-effective; and
- increase generating capacity in New England when we are predicted to need it.
After discussing the general need for increasing renewable energy in New England, our comments discuss these last three points and propose comments for inclusion in the Final EIS/EIR. We conclude with some brief observations regarding the approach to addressing any outstanding questions regarding risks to wildlife.
