Mass. report reveals renewable energy potential locales

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P.S. I have noticed some fine print... "In what Bowles termed “the most striking findings in the report,” the state’s existing infrastructure, such as state buildings and operating facilities, have the potential to add 95 megawatts of power to the region’s power pool." Cape Wind spec'd 3.6 MW wind turbines multiplied by 130 wind turbines is 468 MW. I think we're already have a infrastructure problem, Secretary Bowles. DOE states we can solve the problem by spending $.58 to $3.9 billion more! "ISO New England (ISO-NE) Incremental Wind Analyzed 6.8 GW" "Total Transmission cost range $3.90 billion (high) to (low) $0.58 billion"

Under Green Jobs Act, hmmm... “Cape Wind has stated that there will be no permanent employment associated with this project in Barnstable County” page 23 of 29 Cape Wind Energy Project JR20084 Staff Report-September 4, 2007/ New Report: 'High Road or Low Road' Commissioned by: Change to Win, Sierra Club, the Laborers International Union of North America, and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters http://www.goodjobsfirst.org/pdf/gjfgreenjobsrpt.pdf "Our review of working conditions in three core sectors of the emerging green economy--wind and solar component manufacturing; green construction; and recycling--suggests one basic conclusion: The fact that an employer is engaged in a business that benefits the environment does not necessarily mean that the employees of that enterprise are going to be treated well. While some green companies are model employers, others pay their workers too little and offer them inadequate benefits. Purportedly green firms have in some cases resorted to union-busting and the exploitation of undocumented immigrants. In short, the green economy is not always a humane economy." This February '09, DOE contracted study on wind energy and required transmission costs is alarming. Secretary Bowles must have missed it: http://eetd.lbl.gov/ea/ems/reports/lbnl-1471e.pdf 7. Conclusions "Recent growth in wind power development in the United States has been coupled with a growing concern that this development will require substantial additions to the nations transmission infrastructure. It is clear that institutional issues related to transmission planning, siting, and cost allocation will pose major obstacles to accelerated wind power deployment, but also of concern is the potential cost of this transmission infrastructure build out." "ISO New England (ISO-NE) Incremental Wind Analyzed 6.8 GW" "Total Transmission cost range $3.90 billion (high) to (low) $0.58 billion" I couldn't agree with you more, Andy. I would qualify that as "immitigable" harm to endangered wildlife, including those at the "brink of extinction" (roseate tern) by Cape Wind. The EPA MMS Cape Wind FEIS 2/17/09 comments state: “Monitoring, Mitigation & Management”: “Enforceable monitoring and mitigation requirements for project construction and operation will be a critical component of any MMS authorization for the Cape Wind project.” How would MMS/Cape Wind/monitors implement, let alone enforce, Adaptive management monitoring and mitigation with Cape Wind when “effective techniques to perform post-construction monitoring simply do not exist” according to the lead federal regulator, under the ESA Section 7 consultation process, USFWS, Cape Wind MMS DEIS comments? Mitigation of avian mortalities by wind turbines has not worked to date to reduce harm to wildlife on land. Mitigation of avian mortalities is not possible with Cape Wind as one cannot mitigate what one cannot effectively monitor as mortalities over water. Mass Audubon's comments on the Cape Wind DEIS on February 23, 2005; to Ms. Karen Kirk Adams, the Cape Wind Energy Project Manager U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District -- Reference File No. NAE-2004-338-1, EOEA No. 12643: "By utilizing other bird mortality data provided in the DEIS, Mass Audubon staff scientists arrived at avian mortalities that ranged from 2,300 to 6,600 collision deaths per year." Mass Audubon comment to the USACE on the Cape Wind DEIS: "This area of Nantucket Sound is within the eastern U.S. migratory bird flyway and hosts high concentrations of wintering waterfowl, and is in close proximity to nesting, foraging and staging areas for federally endangered roseate terns and threatened piping plovers. Substantial numbers of federally endangered sea turtles and protected marine mammal species frequent the proposed project site. In addition, the proposed site provides habitat for federally regulated finfish and shellfish populations." http://www.massaudubon.org/PDF/CapeWindDEIS.pdf The taking of land and sea is tyranny.

The taking of land from the citizens of the Commonwealth by the state is either for conservation or to enable the Commonwealth to execute its charter and business. The Commonwealth is not supposed to be in the business of energy production. Thus, the use of state land by the state for this purpose has to be unconstitutional. In addition, the wind and solar installations talked about will be a blight on our land and an environmental disaster. Andyw2