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Myth: Cape Wind would markedly reduce local air pollution and presents a solution to global warming.

Fact: Cape Wind would not make a significant contribution to the effort to reduce pollution emissions, and in fact, could aggravate the problem by causing dirty power plants to run more often in order to be ready to generate power instantly when the wind stops blowing.

Despite the claims of some Cape Wind supporters, the Cape Wind project would not shut down local fossil fuel burning power plants. Due to the unreliable nature of wind power, back up sources of power - including fossil fuel burning plants - must always be running to compensate for the possible lack of wind. Moreover, since much of the air pollution in Southern New England originates in the Mid-West, Cape Wind would have little impact on local air quality.

At a minimum, Cape Wind used questionable data and assumptions in arriving at its claims for air quality benefits of the project. Beyond ignoring the issue of dirty back up power, Cape Wind’s approach generally ignores the effect of a capped SO₂ and NO_x emissions system, in which neither Cape Wind nor any other new generating source would reduce emissions below the cap in the long run.

While pushing the allegedly “green” Cape Wind project, Cape Wind developer Jim Gordon is simultaneously proposing a diesel burning power plant just yards from an elementary school in Chelsea, Massachusetts. Not surprisingly, this proposal has been met with strong local opposition in Chelsea.

To learn about the Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound’s commitment to the fight against global warming, check out our amicus brief on the Clean Air Act suit against US EPA.