RFK Jr. is NOT Happy About Cape Wind

The Cape Wind controversy continues. Last week, the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinna) filed a lawsuit against the federal government for the proposed 130-turbine project planned for Nantucket Sound, arguing that the project will “destroy historical, cultural and spiritual tribal resources located on Horseshoe Shoal.”

Yesterday, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. penned an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal that takes another swing at the Cape Wind turbine project planned for the coast of Cape Cod. The environmental attorney and Waterkeeper Alliance president argues that not only will Cape Wind be detrimental to the preservation (and views) along the coastline, it will also be more costly. Pointing to Vermont’s plan to procure green energy from HydroQuebec at a cost of 6 cents per kilowat hour (kwh) — a source of energy he says is also open to Massachusetts — he argues that Cape Wind’s estimated cost of 25 cents per kwh would come in “$1 billion above market averages, according to Cape Wind’s own regulatory filings about its contract with National Grid, the utility company that has agreed to buy half its power.” Paying that much, he argues, is just setting us up for a “boondoggle”:

Bluntly put: Whether you agree or disagree with the fishermen, homeowners and environmentalists who have fought Cape Wind for a decade, the fact is this project makes no sense for ratepayers and taxpayers. Vastly cheaper forms of energy, and not just wind, are now available.

This is just the latest in the 10-year-long saga that is the Cape Wind debate. But for those of you who want to get caught up on the conflict can check out the new documentary, Cape Spin, which will be offering its first sneak peek screening on Martha’s Vineyard on August 2.

Marquee photograph by Cobalt/123rf