Nantucket Sound Wind Farm

[FishSticks]

Today the US Dept. of Interior finally approved the Cape Wind project for 130 generators, 400 feet tall, in Nantucket Sound. Not a bad idea from what I know, but many will disagree. This project may be the precedent for many similar ones on the US east coast.

Some sailors who have been opposing this might think about the new possibilities for a race course. Perhaps an extension of the Fugawi. Could be a slalom of sorts with a requirement to round each tower, which could be equipped with it's own webcam for the viewing pleasure of the public.

When the installation is completed I may decide to replace my 1963 Nantucket Sound chart.

[SVAuspicious]

I sailed in and around the wind farm in the western English Channel in '05 and '06. It wasn't a big deal, but the spacing may not have been as close as the 1/2 mile proposed for Nantucket Sound.

I'm not sure how the economics will work. The last I saw the wholesale cost (before distribution and other retail costs) was going to be around $.24 /kw-hr. The wholesale cost for coal power in the US is, I believe between $.02 and .04 / kw-hr.

[sailingfool]

When this plan got going, what made it work was a green tax credit of about 100% of the retail value of the power produced. Where it is now, eight years later, who knows. I heard a mariner on the radio today complaining about how dangerous the towers would be to boaters. What a joke, the towers are going in on the infamous Horseshoe shoals which run depths of 1-6 foot...Having some towers there will save a lot of running aground, and help the hapless many better navigate the empty reaches of Nantucket sound.

[CalebD]

After the offshore oil rig explosion in the Gulf o' Mexico I would much rather have a wind farm off my local coast then offshore drilling.
The oil rig explosion was a bit ironic IMHO as it happened in seemingly average weather whereas the oil rigs down there are regularly subjected to hurricanes. I wonder how the 'new' wind farm technology will deal with the few hurricanes that do blow through the northeast not to mention the winter storms we get up here. Remember that winter in the north Atlantic is a notoriously stormy area.

[FishSticks]

Originally Posted by sailingfool

I heard a mariner on the radio today complaining about how dangerous the towers would be to boaters.

That may be. There are boaters who sometimes land in trees.

[nk235]

I sail up in those waters about two or three times a year so for me it is not that crucial but I do wish they wouldn't go through with the wind farm. I am all for taking care of the planet and finding cleaner solutions even though I think the whole "Going Green" craze is getting slightly out of hand...however I just feel that the power generated and the savings resulted by having these massive structures out there is a total waste and is more of a politcal statement than a usefull plan. There is so much water and land in and surrounding the U.S. that I feel these things could be put anywhere else where they could be just as effective. I know there are many different opinions on whether they are "eye sores" vs nice to look at and whether they help or hinder nautical navigation and I am not going to get into that but I do feel that the area they want to put it is one of the best and most beautiful sailing terratories in the world. Every year we make a trip out to Block Island and looking out from the Lighthouse is so beautiful...I hate the thought that in a few years that view will be obstructed by giant wind turbines put there just to help the political status of some politicians.

I don't want to turn this into a political post and I know everyone has different opinions but I feel that even if you are for it, you can agree that there are a TON of people who oppose it and there are literally endless possibilities of other places to put these in the US. Instead it is going to change (for better or worse) one of the most historic and best sailing, boating and fishing grounds we have.

[sailingdog]

I think the shoals will help protect the wind farm from all but the most clueless of boaters....

[Minnewaska]

I think they look neat.

I think the economics are questionable.

I think government subsidizing energy is unsustainable and will deplete faster than crude.

I think we've never heard all the facts in one coherent unbiased presentation.

[JohnRPollard]

We're going to make a trip to Nantucket a priority before these get built. I want my kids to remember how beautiful it was.

[svHyLyte]

Originally Posted by Minnewaska

I think they look neat.

I think the economics are questionable.

I think government subsidizing energy is unsustainable and will deplete faster than crude.

I think we've never heard all the facts in one coherent unbiased presentation.

I agree with all of the foregoing.

And I find it interesting that before Teddy's body is even cold, this measure suddenly gets approved., eh?