Policy Papers Address the Offshore Wind Debate

This article,
Deeply Held Values Fuel Debate Over Offshore Wind (Renewable Energy Access, 5/19/05) reports on research by two University of Delaware policy scientists, Willett Kempton and Jeremy Firestone on the controversy over the Cape Wind project. Kempton found that:

"In terms of the opposition, the most emotionally felt argument, and we suspect the most motivating one against the project, is that it would intrude on a very special place and the creatures that live there," Kempton says. "Similar findings have been made about the importance of the landscape in land-based wind projects," he notes. "Our data suggest that these feelings also relate to the seascape. There appears to be something special about the ocean, a feeling that for many people underpins their opposition to the project."

Some arguments pro and con were based on incomplete information. Kempton said that some interviewees questioned the motives for building wind farms in the ocean versus on land, believing that it was a way for a developer to save money on land purchases. In fact, it is more expensive to build at sea, but the wind is stronger there. Others opposed the project because they felt it was being built in "their territory"; many supporters and opponents expected an opportunity to vote on it. In fact, the project would be in federal waters and local hearings are required, but no votes will be taken.

There's more information in the article about the Cape Wind paper and a related policy paper.