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SOS Fall Radio Ad Campaign Listen Here
Take a moment to look out from our beaches over the beautiful waters of Nantucket Sound. And appreciate what you don’t see. You don’t see 130 wind turbines the height of 40 story buildings, covering an area the size of Manhattan. You don’t see a ten story service platform holding 40,000 gallons of oil in the middle of our fishing grounds. You don’t see an industrial plant that would raise our electric bills, hurt our businesses and burden us with more government handouts – while outsourcing jobs overseas.
What you may also not see is that Cape Wind can be stopped. Did you know that after 13 years, this private developer still faces lawsuits and needs investors? Or that opposition is increasing? Or that Cape Wind could move to a better site? The truth is their expensive power plant is far from a done deal. With your support, we can stop Cape Wind. To learn more, go to Save Our Sound.org. Because once Nantucket Sound is gone, it’s gone forever.
Link to Audra Parker on radio talk shows.
Cape Wind's Decade of False Starts
The latest news is yet another in a string of announcements where Cape Wind is claiming that construction is imminent. Summary Cape CapecccSummarySSSS
Jobs: Cape Wind would not produce anything like the jobs its supporters promise — at least NOT IN THE U.S.
Cape Wind has established a disturbing pattern of outsourcing jobs to foreign countries, despite claims to create local jobs. It plans to use Siemens turbines from Germany, is working with French, Dutch, and Danish investors, and reneged on an agreement with a local company, Mass Tank to manufacture the foundations of its wind turbines – electing instead to go overseas. Recently, the UK cable protection systems specialist Tekmar Energy just won a lucrative contract with Cape Wind.
Cape Wind will only create 50 permanent jobs and at an outrageous $4.3 billion package of federal and state incentives, these permanent year round jobs would come at a taxpayer cost of $86 million per job! (Read what happened in Germany.)
The decline in tourism would lead to the loss of up to 2,500 jobs, a reduction in tourist spending of $57 - $123 million, a related drop in output of $94 - $203 million, a drop in earnings of $28 - $61 million, & a $1.35 billion decline in property values.
(Statistics provided by Beacon Hill Institute of Suffolk University)
Scores of commercial fishermen, who earn the majority of their income in the area of the proposed site, believe this project would displace commercial fishing and permanently threaten their livelihood.
The Endangered Species Act
Federal agencies violated the Endangered Species Act and must re-evaluate impacts on birds and right whales. Alliance Press Release, March 14, 2014
The Cost to Birds: Read More
 
Bryant Marine Log, December 2014: A utility company was sentenced to pay fines, restitution, and community service totaling $2.5M and serve five years probation, during which time it must implement an environmental compliance program aimed at preventing bird deaths at its wind projects. Companies are expected to use due diligence in the siting, construction, and operation of wind power projects to minimize the risk of taking migratory birds.
The Slaughter: Under pressure from the wind industry, the White House said it will allow the killing of eagles without fear of prosecution for up to three decades. Individuals are prosecuted over the protected species laws, while wind energy gets a free pass. Fox News Rd
Audubon Press Release: Interior Greenlights Eagle Slaughter by Wind Farms - "Instead of balancing the need for conservation & renewable energy, Interior wrote the wind industry a blank check."
Piping Plovers and Roseate Terns at Risk in Nantucket Sound: Letter from Defenders of Wildlife to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's "Determination of Reasonal and Prudent Measures" for Cape Wind, requiring the temporary and seasonal shut down of turbines during periods of highest threat to Roseate Terns and Piping Plovers.
The Cost to Endangered Right Whales
December 2014, advisory issued after right whales sited in local waters: Cape Cod Times
Cape Wind would be a threat to the endangered right whale, sharks, and other marine life in Nantucket Sound. A recent incident is reported in the Cape Cod Times article: Research Vessel Collides with Whale
A coalition of environmental and animal protection groups sued the federal government to protect critically endangered North Atlantic right whales. Link to Press Release
The Cost to Sharks, Leatherback Turtles, etc.
Endangered leatherback turtles stay near Cape Cod. Recent Study
The picture below shows a leatherback being rescued last in Nantucket Sound.
The Cost to the Ratepayer: Projected Price of Electricity by Source
MA utilities will be purchasing green wind power from New Hampshire and Maine facilities at an average price of less than 8 cents per kWh vs. Cape Wind’s price of 19 cents per kWh rising to over 30 cents in the final year. No utility, business or consumer should be forced to underwrite a private developer at more than three times the cost of readily available green energy from other sources. Alliance Press Release, September 23, 2013
Threat to Groundwater: The Town in Barnstable will be appealing the state’s approval of Cape Wind’s installation of new equipment at a switching station in Barnstable that would increase the amount of dielectric oil by 1,534 gallons. The town asked Cape Wind to install an oil containment system, similar to one at another NStar transformer in West Barnstable. “They refuse to do that here,” McLaughlin said, adding that if one gallon of oil makes it into the groundwater it has the potential to contaminate
5 million gallons of water. Cape Cod Times
Opposition to Cape Wind Continues to Grow
SOS SUPPORTERS: Alliance reports strong fundraising as Cape Wind opposition continues to grow as deadlines loom: Press Release
THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY: View ads in major newspapers sponsored by MACP (MA Competitive Partnership) & AIM (Associated Industries of MA).
June 13th in DC papers: Politico, The Hill, Roll Call. "Some Facts About The Cape Wind Project You May Not Know"
May 22nd: Cape Cod Times, Globe, Herald
RATEPAYERS: New England Ratepayers Association mailed this informational postcard to 30,000 homes in MA: "Don't let middle class taxpayers foot the bill for a risky, expensive, and unnecessary project."
THE LATEST POLL: Support for Cape Wind is collapsing in MA, according to a survey conducted by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center. Alliance Press Release
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Challenges For Cape Wind
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Significant legal appeals
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Federal agencies violated Endangered Species Act and must go back to the drawing board to evaluate the impacts and protection measures for birds and right whales. Alliance Press Release, March 14, 2014
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Power not fully sold.
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Cape Wind received a Federal Loan Guarantee that is conditional upon arranging for the balance of its $2.6 billion cost . Additonally a key federal tax credit expired on 12/31/13. If it is resurrected it must be determined that Cape Wind began construction by the end of 2013.
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Pension Denmark issued a $200 million conditional commitment & represents less than 10% of project costs. More recently, the board of a Danish export credit agency has approved a $600 million conditional loan. Cape Wind's March 26 announcement adding Natixis and Rabobank as the project's Lead Arrangers is another incremental and conditional commitment that does little to change the numerous challenges Cape Wind continues to face. Alliance Press Release, February 26, 2014; Alliance Press Release, March 26, 2014
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Cape Wind's pre-construction requirements are incomplete: seafloor survey work; avian baseline studies; authorization from National Marine Fisheries; numerous permits outlined in the Construction & Operation Plan.
SOS Fall Newsletter 2014
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LINK
FOXNEWS: America's First Ever Wind Farm Is Going Over Budget Before Construction Even Begins
Cape Cod Times: Advisory Issued After Right Whales Spotted in Local Waters
Cape Cod Times: Cape Wind Close on Financing Delayed
Commonwealth Magazine: Is Cape Wind Running Out of Time?
Recharge News: Cape Wind to Miss 2014 Goal to Close Project Financing
Cape Cod Times: Wind Farm Opponents to File Appeals (Town of Barnstable claims potential threat to ground water)
Boston Herald: Cape Wind Project Now $10M Over Budget
Indian Country Today: Obama's Harvard Law School Mentor Takes on Cape Wind
Cape Cod Times: Wind Farm Opponents to File Appeals
Boston Herald: New Storm Builds for Cape Wind
(UK) Sunday Times: Ill Wind Blows Turbines out of the Water
Alliance Press Release and Providence Journal: Leading Constitutional Law Expert: Expensive Cape Wind Power Contract "Forced Down NStar's Throat"
Cape Cod Times- Letter: Baker Well-Positioned to Stop Wind Farm
North American Wind Power: Siemens Takes Big Loss Due to Wind Turbine Issues
Barnstable Patriot: Barnstable Council Claims Toxic Chemicals Could Threaten the Water Supply
Boston Globe: Patrick's Energy Policies Under Criticism
Real Clear Markets: Cape Wind: An Unsightly Monument to Political Pull
Martha's Vineyard Gazette: Letter: Cape Wind Risks
SparkSpread: Google Withdraws from Cape Wind Discussions
Martha's Vineyard Times - Letter: Time to Unplug Cape Wind
Cape Cod Life - Guest Commentary: Cape Wind's Numbers Aren't Good for Business
Boston Business Journal: Interview with Laurence Tribe - Constitutional Law Scholar Takes on Cape Wind
NECN: Cape Wind Opponents File Federal Appeal to Block Off-Shore Facility
Cape Cod Times: Cape Wind Foes Appeal Latest Legal Defeat
Cape Wind's Financing Woes
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LOANS: Cape Wind is getting a conditional commitment, not a final investment, from a Danish pension company for its European turbines. More recently, the board of a Danish export credit agency has approved a $600 million conditional loan . Cape Wind's March 26 announcement adding Natixis and Rabobank as the project's Lead Arrangers is another incremental and conditional commitment that does little to change the numerous challenges Cape Wind continues to face.
Alliance Press Releases: February 26, 2014, March 26, 2014
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BACKING: There is very little interest in this controversial high-cost project from the private sector.
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SUBSIDIES: July 1, it was reported that Cape Wind received a conditional loan guarantee from the U.S. Department of Energy. This is too little, too late. The developers originally requested a loan guarantee of nearly $2 billion, but received a guarantee for only $150 million, and they continue to lack the necessary financing needed for their $2.6 billion project. Alliance Statement
Additionally, if it is determined that Cape Wind did not begin construction by the end of the year, they will not qualify for a key federal tax credit (which expired on December 31, 2013 - but may be resurrected).
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Adverse Economic Impacts
of Cape Wind
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Cape Wind would result in a high net cost to the public due to duplicative subsidies and tax credits, increased electric costs, and negative impacts to tourism, jobs, and property values.
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The project would impose billions of dollars in additional electricity costs for businesses, households, and municipalities throughout Massachusetts.
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Scores of commercial fishermen, who earn the majority of their income in the area of the proposed site, believe this project would displace commercial fishing and permanently threaten their livelihoods.
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The decline in tourism would lead to the loss of up to 2,500 jobs, a reduction in tourist spending of $57 - $123 million, a related drop in output of $94 - $203 million, a drop in earnings of $28 - $61 million, & a $1.35 billion decline in property values.
Statistics provided by Beacon Hill Institute of Suffolk University
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