No Surprise Here - Senator Kennedy Comes Out Against Cape Wind

Though as reported here, Senator Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts has flip-flopped a little on how vigorously to oppose Cape Wind, a recent speech leaves no doubts about his position as reported in Kennedy Voices Displeasure Over Cape Wind's Proposal, Jay Fitzgerald, Boston Herald, (8/8/03). As the article reports

U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy yesterday openly confirmed one of the state's worst-kept secrets: He opposes a controversial plan to build 130 400-foot-tall power generators on Nantucket Sound's Horseshoe Shoal. The Hyannis Democrat, who has knocked the wind-turbine plan and the lack of local, state and federal rules to govern it, felt it was time to state his views more clearly and comprehensively, a spokeswoman said yesterday. In a statement yesterday praising the ``incomparable Nantucket Sound'' and noting his family ties to Cape Cod, Kennedy sharply criticized the project proposed by Cape Wind Associates. We must do all we can to see that this first-of-its-kind project receives enough state and federal scrutiny to justify its going forward. So far, in spite of all the loud rhetoric on the issue, Cape Wind hasn't met that test, and I doubt they ever will. Until they do, the project should not go forward. Far more is at stake in the decision than our backyards, and I make no apologies for opposing this project now,'' Kennedy concluded.

Cape Wind officials remain optimistic, however, that after the extensive environmental studies now ongoing that Kennedy "will come to realize that the public's interests'' are protected. That is, of course, assuming that the opposition is about the project's impacts and not the view from Hyannisport.