MarEx Mailbag
This week’s mailbag contains something just a little bit different. Although not addressing any article in our online and/or print editions, it does touch upon a hot-button issue of the day.
This week, we received just one letter, but not one addressing last week’s lead piece. Instead, the entry references the so-called “Cape Wind” project off the coast of Massachusetts in Nantucket Sound. The reader would prefer that windmills not be situated in this area. Others – including myself – welcome the (a.) maritime aspect of this project, (b.) the clean energy it will produce and (c.) the reduced dependence on foreign energy production that might be a byproduct of the effort. Read on to see what our reader had to say below:
Letters to the Editor
The Maritime Executive
3200 South Andrews Avenue, Suite 100
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
To The Editor:
As a colonial-rooted Cape Cod native who firmly believes in the sanctity of our maritime heritage, I am writing to ardently express my steadfast support for the Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound. Based upon sensible logic, data and reasoning, I am also conversely opposed to the controversial Cape Wind Project which seeks to despoil and rob us of the pristine nautical legacy bestowed by our forefathers. As a result of the likely profound damaging regional financial, ecological and public safety consequences Cape Wind would wrought upon us all, it should not be allowed to proceed forward to fruition.
The project poses a cogent danger to essential air and sea navigation. Siting the project in Nantucket Sound is a breach of the public trust. Contrary to their sham claims, the cost of the electricity which the project will produce would not be cheap or competitive. It would be an unbearable fiscal burden hoisted upon us without our sanction or consent. Furthermore, it will represent a deleterious local economic blow by it's absconding of undeserved taxpayer-funded subsidies, forced real estated evaluations, and lost revenues from commercial and tourism activities. The proposed one hundred thirty wind turbines will perpetually cause unsightly visual contamination and distressing noise pollution. Finally, Cape Wind will unnecessarily endanger a critical marine and wildlife habitat.
With the aforesaid thoughtful rationales in mind, along with the inherently unfair and inequitable nature of the proposed Cape Wind Project itself, it must not become a reality which will forever doom our children and grandchildren to a ghastly socially inhumane legacy.
Ron Beaty
West Barnstable, MA
MarEx Editor’s Remarks: Wow! What a letter. And, I couldn’t disagree with it more strongly. I personally cannot see how a bunch of windmills will become a “ghastly inhumane legacy,” but I suspect this individual’s objections to the project stem more from having to actually look at these structures from his backyard than anything else. Still, one of the more attractive sights – in my opinion – on Cape Cod (or just on the other side) is the stainless steel windmill on the campus of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. Already producing dividends in more ways than one, the unit provides a large portion of the academy’s power needs and, if I’m not mistaken, a bunch of juice gets sold back to the grid. Count me as a supporter of wind power. Finally, if Mr. Beaty doesn’t like the looks of windmills on the water, can we assume that he’d rather see an oil rig or perhaps a passing VLCC, or maybe a nuclear power plant in West Barnstable? There are no easy answers. This one – offshore wind power – might come as close as there is to that standard, however. – MarEx.