Google Earth Community: Cape Wind Project, Massachusetts

Hi all,

Some of you may have heard about the Cape Wind Project, a proposal to build the first offshore wind farm in the United States in the vicinity of Nantucket Island and Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts. It has already been mentioned in a previous post.

This attachment contains an overlay of the project and polygons showing the proposed wind farm location and main shipping routes and polylines showing the closest ferry routes and airplane paths.

The project has the potential to replace roughly 113 million gallons of foreign oil per year and satisfy about 75% of the island's energy demands. It is subject to approval by several federal agencies before being constructed in federal waters and it seems likely that it will pass.

Not everybody is in favor of the project and many locals contend that 130 417-foot wind turbines will scar the beautiful view of the area and damage the tourism industry in the area. Independent analysis indicates that the 100+ yard tall turbines will appear less than an inch above the horizon from the closest beaches. In all, polls suggest that 47% of Massachusetts residents favor construction of the wind farm, 13% are against it and 39% are undecided.

If all goes according to planned, 2005 will see the conclusion of an environmental impact study and the wind turbines will be constructed in 2006. In preparation for construction, Cape Wind has constructed a meteorological tower in the sound to collect real-time wind conditions at the future turbine site.

Arguments for the Cape Wind Project: http://www.capewind.org/
Arguments against the Cape Wind Project: http://saveoursound.org/home.aspx

Take care,

-RockyRaccoon

A modern wind farm off the coast of Copenhagen, Denmark (Cape Wind turbines would be separated by 1/3 of a mile):

Cape Wind promises the turbines won't be an eyesore. Here's another picture from Denmark:

Critics doubt the turbines will contribute aesthetic value to the community (an artistic impression, not a real photo):