The usual motley assortment of rich NIMBYs, traditional energy companies, and regulatory hurdles have mostly managed to stop offshore wind farms here in the US. Considering all the bleating from DC and Important People about how we need to go renewable energy, I’d say it was ridiculous we still have no offshore wind. Other countries are racing ahead of us on this. We talk a good game yet do little.
A recent auction of parcels off Martha’s Vineyard went for a paltry $2 an acre Some parcels had no bids at all. In previous auctions, parcels went for $100 an acre. On this the ruling class stands united. Both the Kennedy’s and Bill Koch have spent millions to defeat offshore wind in that area.
After nearly 15 years of planning, two utilities dropped their power purchase agreement (PPA) contracts with the project, citing missed finance and construction deadlines. Just last week, the Boston Globe reported that Cape Wind dropped contracts that were meant to provide assembly areas for workers and turbine components. Cape Wind officials say that these missed deadlines stem from years of heavy legal burdens brought on by protest groups, particularly the Alliance for Nantucket Sound, which is supported by the vocal Bill Koch [and the Kennedys.]
Offshore wind turbines can be much bigger than on land, and thus generate more power. Plus., they are actually easier to install because there are no worries about trucking immense turbine blades to remote locations. You might think it would be a good thing to have locally-generated power. But swarms of NIMBYs fight offshore wind relentlessly elsewhere too. A New Jersey project is now uncertain, to to regulatory fights. A Delaware wind farm is on hold. It is possible a Rhode Island project may actually start this summer. Let’s hope so.
The image (PDF) show offshore wind development in the EU. It makes us look pathetic, doesn’t it?
Why is it we have to argue about everything?