I am bit distressed that this year, a candidate's position on Cape Wind seems to be the sole barometer of whether or not someone is enough of a friend of the environment. For example, Tom Reilly is getting hammered on it in some circles but his environmental creditials are quite solid. He's prosecuted polluters and his office has been amongst the leaders in joining with other states to oppose Federal weakening of environmental protection regulations by the Bush administration.
We certainly have a lot of energy problems in this state, but Cape Wind isn't the only solution. (Like Andrea Silbert - at least according to this chart over at BMG - I am in favor of allowing the permitting process to continue, but want to see what the environmental impact reviews reveal. But I am also in favor of imposing stricter requirements on power plant smokestack scrubbers and reducing mercury output - two of many things that need to be addresses ASAP before our water and fish stocks become any more contaminated. I know Cape Wind will help those things, but shouldn't we just do those other things anyway?
I dunno, just a random thought this afternoon.
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Agree; even as an ardent Cape Wind supporter, I too want to see an orderly permitting process. And, although the extensive Draft Environmental Impact Statement came up pretty positive for the project, there were and are some additional questions and information that needs to be gathered. I SUSPECT and PREDICT that the additional reviews will show the project to be OK; but, I'd be a fool to try and assert that all the info is in.
Similarly, I would hope that project opponents will recognize the data and proof for what it is, as it is brought forward into the public discourse through the DEIS and FEIS.
And, in fact, that's what the EIS process is all about. Getting the facts on the table instead of the poltically and socially and environmentally charged assertions, half-truths, fears, speculations.
P.S., and kind of on-subject, I understand that 69 state legislators have written to the U.S. Congress opposing the Stevens amendment to kill the Cape Wind project. Link:
http://www.capecodtoday.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=0403
I say briefly: Best! Useful information. Good job guys.
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