Bruce Mohl
February 24, 2014
3:17PM
February 24, 2014
3:17PM
1. How did you get interested in this
topic?
I’m sort of late to the issue, really. It’s been going on for more than a decade. I wasn’t really that involved until it sort of hit, where Beacon Hill became involved I think. When National Grid signed a contract with Cape Wind to purchase half of its power input, I think that’s when it started showing up in my radar screen. And then once that happened, it won some significant Federal approvals, and we did some stories when that happened. I became interested in the financial aspects of the project. The National Grid deal. Probably in 2010.
I’m sort of late to the issue, really. It’s been going on for more than a decade. I wasn’t really that involved until it sort of hit, where Beacon Hill became involved I think. When National Grid signed a contract with Cape Wind to purchase half of its power input, I think that’s when it started showing up in my radar screen. And then once that happened, it won some significant Federal approvals, and we did some stories when that happened. I became interested in the financial aspects of the project. The National Grid deal. Probably in 2010.
2. What are some of the unique obstacles you
faced as a journalist covering this topic?
It’s a project that started off…as a sort of this guy wants to build wind turbines out in the middle of the ocean versus all these people who didn’t want to have it near them. It sort of morphed over time into this issue into the guy who wants wind turbines out in the ocean to is it too costly? Does it cost too much for the environmental benefit you’re getting? Granted the opponents have shifted it into that direction…etc. The unique obstacles: it’s a very polarizing issue. You’re for it ‘cause it’s good for the environment, or you’re against it for pick your reason: you don’t want to look at it, it’s too expensive, whatever. What’s always fascinated me about it is the expense and whether we should do it no matter what the cost, or if it’s too expensive at some point to do. So I guess the unique obstacle is that the sides are so polarized. Very little objectivity.
It’s a project that started off…as a sort of this guy wants to build wind turbines out in the middle of the ocean versus all these people who didn’t want to have it near them. It sort of morphed over time into this issue into the guy who wants wind turbines out in the ocean to is it too costly? Does it cost too much for the environmental benefit you’re getting? Granted the opponents have shifted it into that direction…etc. The unique obstacles: it’s a very polarizing issue. You’re for it ‘cause it’s good for the environment, or you’re against it for pick your reason: you don’t want to look at it, it’s too expensive, whatever. What’s always fascinated me about it is the expense and whether we should do it no matter what the cost, or if it’s too expensive at some point to do. So I guess the unique obstacle is that the sides are so polarized. Very little objectivity.
3. How has the media shaped the way this topic
has been disseminated to the people? Has the coverage shifted at all from
when the idea was first proposed to now, in its early construction stage?
There was a book written originally about the fight over Cape Wind in the early years. But it was all about how the people who were trying to get Cape Wind built were taking on all these blue bloods down in the Cape who didn’t want to look at it. Now it’s shifted very dramatically. It’s become clear that they’re very expensive. The whole dynamic has shifted from aesthetics and location to cost. It’s gotten all the approvals, and though many are being challenged in court, my guess is that they’ll win all the approvals to build the thing. The question is whether the repairs will be worth it.
There was a book written originally about the fight over Cape Wind in the early years. But it was all about how the people who were trying to get Cape Wind built were taking on all these blue bloods down in the Cape who didn’t want to look at it. Now it’s shifted very dramatically. It’s become clear that they’re very expensive. The whole dynamic has shifted from aesthetics and location to cost. It’s gotten all the approvals, and though many are being challenged in court, my guess is that they’ll win all the approvals to build the thing. The question is whether the repairs will be worth it.
4.
This topic is political, environmental, and personal. Is there
something unique about working in this Cape Cod/Nantucket area?
No, I think from what I understand it was picked because it’s where they want to locate where the wind farm is relatively shallow and the wind is very consistent and it tends to occur during daylight hours too which a lot of wind farms tend to pick up during the night. So it’s a very attractive environmental location. Political: a lot of people have places on the Cape who have a lot of power politically, so I’m sure they’re all very interested in the topic. I always often think it would be attractive to look at these turbines.
No, I think from what I understand it was picked because it’s where they want to locate where the wind farm is relatively shallow and the wind is very consistent and it tends to occur during daylight hours too which a lot of wind farms tend to pick up during the night. So it’s a very attractive environmental location. Political: a lot of people have places on the Cape who have a lot of power politically, so I’m sure they’re all very interested in the topic. I always often think it would be attractive to look at these turbines.
5. By now it seems that there have been two real
sides to the discussion--those who wanted the wind farm and those who did not.
But what other voices might be missing?
What sort of makes the story interesting…I wrote a story I think last year, and I interviewed Bill Koch and Jim Gordon, the two guys on polar opposites on the issue. It’s clear that both these guys are very similar in a lot of ways—businessmen who are hard-charging, take-no-prisoners types. They’re now locked in a death-struggle about this, so there’s a personal element. Then you’ve got this environmental, economic issue going on. I think a lot of it is this is one of those issues that most people are not well-informed…they view it in a very narrow prism: that it’s either good for the environment…vs. people who say, we don’t need it, we could build wind farms more cheaply elsewhere and we should do that before we go for this higher-expense type of cost. They never really think about it much beyond that.
6. What kinds of trends might this project set in the environmental world? Political world? What about economically, geographically, demographically, internationally, etc.? There’s a conference this week here in Boston, an Offshore Wind Conference; Jim Gordon’s going to be there. It’s had the reputation as being the first American offshore wind farm. It would be a big deal nationally and internationally if he prevails and gets this launched ‘cause I think it would usher in a new attitude. The first one is always tough; this would be a big momentum builder for people trying to build offshore wind farms. I have a feeling the whole business will kick off. It would be an international story if it starts to get actually built. And I think it would be a huge success for Governor Deval Patrick if it gets built ‘cause he’s been a huge supporter of the project. Forced NSTAR to buy roughly a one-third of the Cape Cod power. NSTAR (local utility) was hoping to merge with Northeast Utilities (CT)…they wouldn’t get Patrick’s approval unless NSTAR bought some of the Cape Wind’s power output. Huge loss for Bill Koch and many waterfront owners. Most of that would be forgotten pretty quickly. I have a feeling that people would get used to the turbines pretty quickly.
What sort of makes the story interesting…I wrote a story I think last year, and I interviewed Bill Koch and Jim Gordon, the two guys on polar opposites on the issue. It’s clear that both these guys are very similar in a lot of ways—businessmen who are hard-charging, take-no-prisoners types. They’re now locked in a death-struggle about this, so there’s a personal element. Then you’ve got this environmental, economic issue going on. I think a lot of it is this is one of those issues that most people are not well-informed…they view it in a very narrow prism: that it’s either good for the environment…vs. people who say, we don’t need it, we could build wind farms more cheaply elsewhere and we should do that before we go for this higher-expense type of cost. They never really think about it much beyond that.
6. What kinds of trends might this project set in the environmental world? Political world? What about economically, geographically, demographically, internationally, etc.? There’s a conference this week here in Boston, an Offshore Wind Conference; Jim Gordon’s going to be there. It’s had the reputation as being the first American offshore wind farm. It would be a big deal nationally and internationally if he prevails and gets this launched ‘cause I think it would usher in a new attitude. The first one is always tough; this would be a big momentum builder for people trying to build offshore wind farms. I have a feeling the whole business will kick off. It would be an international story if it starts to get actually built. And I think it would be a huge success for Governor Deval Patrick if it gets built ‘cause he’s been a huge supporter of the project. Forced NSTAR to buy roughly a one-third of the Cape Cod power. NSTAR (local utility) was hoping to merge with Northeast Utilities (CT)…they wouldn’t get Patrick’s approval unless NSTAR bought some of the Cape Wind’s power output. Huge loss for Bill Koch and many waterfront owners. Most of that would be forgotten pretty quickly. I have a feeling that people would get used to the turbines pretty quickly.
7. What is your most personal triumph in regards
to this project?
I wanted to do a story on Jim Gordon, and he wouldn’t talk to me. So, I called Bill Koch…and low and behold he agreed to talk to me. And then of course Jim Gordon didn’t want his opponent saying these things without a chance for a rebuttal. So I got both of them to talk, and it was a fascinating story. Turns out they knew each other and Gordon had been trying to show Koch the benefits of the story. They had secret meetings, etc. talking. Turned out to be a fascinating story. We publish transcripts of the interviews.
I wanted to do a story on Jim Gordon, and he wouldn’t talk to me. So, I called Bill Koch…and low and behold he agreed to talk to me. And then of course Jim Gordon didn’t want his opponent saying these things without a chance for a rebuttal. So I got both of them to talk, and it was a fascinating story. Turns out they knew each other and Gordon had been trying to show Koch the benefits of the story. They had secret meetings, etc. talking. Turned out to be a fascinating story. We publish transcripts of the interviews.
___________________________________________________________________
Mark Rodgers
March 12, 2014
5:00PM
Communications
director of Cape Wind
1. How did you get
interested in this topic?
I was involved with an
organization that was…I was in a spokesperson communication role for an
organization that was working on reducing pollution from power plants in
Massachusetts, and we advocated for a greater use of renewables like wind. I was very excited about it [the proposal]…I
was brought aboard on the [Cape Wind] team in January of 2002.
2. What are some of the unique
obstacles you faced as the director of this program?
Well I think we’ve faced two unique challenges: one has been that since we were the first offshore wind farm to go through a review process…that review went slowly for that reason. The second challenge was it’s not unusual to have an opposition group; the opposition group of our project was able to tap into the pockets of literally millionaires and billionaires…$30 million into…we’ve been able to prevail; we are within striking distance finally.
Well I think we’ve faced two unique challenges: one has been that since we were the first offshore wind farm to go through a review process…that review went slowly for that reason. The second challenge was it’s not unusual to have an opposition group; the opposition group of our project was able to tap into the pockets of literally millionaires and billionaires…$30 million into…we’ve been able to prevail; we are within striking distance finally.
3. How has the media shaped the
way this topic has been disseminated to the people? Has the coverage
shifted at all from when the idea was first proposed to now, in its early
construction stage?
I would
say Cape Wind’s complaint about the media coverage is that it always is
gravitated to controversy and conflict, and so they’ve really played up that
storyline. What gets lost in that train
is that we’ve also had an extraordinary level of support at the grass-roots
level, among real environmental organizations.
We have strong support among the labor, trade, and health organizations. And political support. We’re very happy about that, and I think some
of that gets lost in the coverage…I know project opponents don’t like when the
media portrays them as a newbie group.
It’s a lovely setting. It’s been a great
place to be working on a project, and I think that Cape Wind is going to enhance the region when it’s built. A travel destination…it harmonizes well with
the history of the region in which wind power was very important and in which a
region that was once an energy leader globally.
It was whale oil, but it was nonetheless very important in a period of
world history in terms of lighting the lanterns of the world and greasing the
wheels of the industrial revolution.
Cape Cod and Nantucket play a very important role in…the
industry…there’s a nice connection between the setting and the history. The area is very vulnerable to erosion and
rising sea levels, so it makes sense that a region with so much to lose from
the energy status quo would be [good] for that…one piece of many pieces that we
need if we’re going to mitigate the worst effects of climate change.
5. By now it seems that there have been two real sides to the
discussion--those who wanted the wind farm and those who did not. But
what other voices might be missing?
Part of my job is to make sure that voices of project supporters get heard in
all of this…
6. What kinds of trends might this
project set in the environmental world? Political world? What about
economically, geographically, demographically, internationally, etc.?
Because of its location in part, it’s going to be highly accessible and visible so people will visit and experience this facility, and I think that will be very helpful in building America’s offshore wind industry…arguably the best offshore wind resource in the entire world. Offshore wind uniquely can…provide the population centers of the Atlantic Seaboard with large scale clean energy production…I think that if you look at states that are about to do the first to do offshore wind, Mass and RI..block island project…what they have in common is that they’re in offshore states that have adopted energy policies that help launch the American offshore wind industry…it’s no coincidence.
Because of its location in part, it’s going to be highly accessible and visible so people will visit and experience this facility, and I think that will be very helpful in building America’s offshore wind industry…arguably the best offshore wind resource in the entire world. Offshore wind uniquely can…provide the population centers of the Atlantic Seaboard with large scale clean energy production…I think that if you look at states that are about to do the first to do offshore wind, Mass and RI..block island project…what they have in common is that they’re in offshore states that have adopted energy policies that help launch the American offshore wind industry…it’s no coincidence.
7. What is your most personal triumph in
regards to this project?
The day
that Secretary Ken Sales approved the…it was a long day coming. That was the biggest
_____________________________________________________________________
Sandy Taylor
April 18, 2014
10:10AM
April 18, 2014
10:10AM
Sandy worked for ten years volunteer and employee
Executive Assistant, “Master of All”
1. How did you get interested in this
topic?
I’m a sailor in Nantucket sound, and I felt very strongly that that was not the place to put them. I know there are safety issues, maritime radar, and also aviation radar and the safety of the 400,000 flights that go over the sound in one year.
I’m a sailor in Nantucket sound, and I felt very strongly that that was not the place to put them. I know there are safety issues, maritime radar, and also aviation radar and the safety of the 400,000 flights that go over the sound in one year.
2. What are some of the unique obstacles you
faced as “Master of All” for the Alliance?
Going back to 2001 when it was first presented to the public, there were no guidelines for any kind of wind offshore. So through our persistence, we feel we’ve had an impact on the directions and rules for making this happen in the correct manner as opposed to willy-nilly. The Army Corps of Engineers was the first Federal agency to look at it, and they did a direct environmental statement in 2004. And we quickly realized they were not the correct agency to do it because rivers and harbors is their natural plan. They still do have a permit even at today’s stages that they have to give. So in 2005 when the energy law passed, big energy legislation, it was turned over to the Department of the Interior under the Minerals Management Department. And they changed their name to Bureau of Ocean Energy Management after the Gulf spill. They’ve had to adhere and follow the law to make sure everything is done correctly. Now they’re written a law to how you’re supposed to do it.
Going back to 2001 when it was first presented to the public, there were no guidelines for any kind of wind offshore. So through our persistence, we feel we’ve had an impact on the directions and rules for making this happen in the correct manner as opposed to willy-nilly. The Army Corps of Engineers was the first Federal agency to look at it, and they did a direct environmental statement in 2004. And we quickly realized they were not the correct agency to do it because rivers and harbors is their natural plan. They still do have a permit even at today’s stages that they have to give. So in 2005 when the energy law passed, big energy legislation, it was turned over to the Department of the Interior under the Minerals Management Department. And they changed their name to Bureau of Ocean Energy Management after the Gulf spill. They’ve had to adhere and follow the law to make sure everything is done correctly. Now they’re written a law to how you’re supposed to do it.
3. How has the media shaped the way this topic
has been disseminated to the people? Has the coverage shifted at all from
when the idea was first proposed to now, in its early construction stage?
You know, I’m maybe 50/50. Definitely publications have their view, and it is reflected in their articles and headlines…it’s either one way or the other. Placement in the newspaper, we take it very seriously. We really do scrabble to get out our message and education about what’s really happening there. So many people have no idea what’s going on, but we live and breathe it every day. It’s not a done deal; there are still things to preserve the sound out there ‘cause it’s Federal water. It’s federal water …because there’s a…channel two miles wide between Nantucket and Monomoy. There are only two places in the country where you’re surrounded by state water but Federal water inside. See US vs. Maine…We do press releases, we do advertising in the summer (radio and paper)…Audra Parker (President and CEO). We try to, no matter what the topic in the media is, we’re at the bottom of the article. I think Bruce Mohl is one of the most fair. The economics of it is really a hot topic, and he’s done a couple that are really good. National Grid (Nantucket) and NSTAR (Martha’s Vineyard and the Cape), they both have contracts (Power Purchase Agreements) with Cape Wind, and it sets the price and the contracts. National Grid bought fifty four years ago…Three times the cost of energy today. Both NSTAR and National Grid have bought land wind at eight cents per hour with no increase. Cape Wind said they’d provide ¾ of the power for the Cape Cod and the islands and it would be cheaper. Because it’s a new industry in this country, they’ve had to change their tune because the truth is coming out and the economics do not make sense because it’s all passed on to the consumer and the tax payer. Northeast Utilities bought 27 percent of Cape Wind…it’s not sold yet. Governor Patrick really bought the kool-aid with his administration; they penned the Green Communities Act which said right in it that you can make contracts without any bidding. That has since been changed, and that’s how Cape Wind has made those contracts--there was no outside bidding. HydroCanada and a couple companies went to court…that has since changed. It’s not a sealed club.
You know, I’m maybe 50/50. Definitely publications have their view, and it is reflected in their articles and headlines…it’s either one way or the other. Placement in the newspaper, we take it very seriously. We really do scrabble to get out our message and education about what’s really happening there. So many people have no idea what’s going on, but we live and breathe it every day. It’s not a done deal; there are still things to preserve the sound out there ‘cause it’s Federal water. It’s federal water …because there’s a…channel two miles wide between Nantucket and Monomoy. There are only two places in the country where you’re surrounded by state water but Federal water inside. See US vs. Maine…We do press releases, we do advertising in the summer (radio and paper)…Audra Parker (President and CEO). We try to, no matter what the topic in the media is, we’re at the bottom of the article. I think Bruce Mohl is one of the most fair. The economics of it is really a hot topic, and he’s done a couple that are really good. National Grid (Nantucket) and NSTAR (Martha’s Vineyard and the Cape), they both have contracts (Power Purchase Agreements) with Cape Wind, and it sets the price and the contracts. National Grid bought fifty four years ago…Three times the cost of energy today. Both NSTAR and National Grid have bought land wind at eight cents per hour with no increase. Cape Wind said they’d provide ¾ of the power for the Cape Cod and the islands and it would be cheaper. Because it’s a new industry in this country, they’ve had to change their tune because the truth is coming out and the economics do not make sense because it’s all passed on to the consumer and the tax payer. Northeast Utilities bought 27 percent of Cape Wind…it’s not sold yet. Governor Patrick really bought the kool-aid with his administration; they penned the Green Communities Act which said right in it that you can make contracts without any bidding. That has since been changed, and that’s how Cape Wind has made those contracts--there was no outside bidding. HydroCanada and a couple companies went to court…that has since changed. It’s not a sealed club.
4. This topic is political, environmental, and
personal. Is there something unique about working in this Cape
Cod/Nantucket area?
Our economy is driven by tourism. Look up the Beacon Hill study. Suffolk University.
Our economy is driven by tourism. Look up the Beacon Hill study. Suffolk University.
5. By now it seems that there have been two real
sides to the discussion--those who wanted the wind farm and those who did
not. But what other voices might be missing?
I think there are a lot of people on the fence, either one way or the other. I think there are a lot of people who are green at heart and that’s the way you’d vote, and this has never been a vote. But this isn’t a green project, when you look at what it entails to make those turbines and put them 80 feet into the seabed for boats to do that, yeah maybe after fifteen years it’ll offset all the carbon that it took to build it…I think there are a lot of people with their heads in the sand. We have lots of supporters who don’t even live on the Cape.
I think there are a lot of people on the fence, either one way or the other. I think there are a lot of people who are green at heart and that’s the way you’d vote, and this has never been a vote. But this isn’t a green project, when you look at what it entails to make those turbines and put them 80 feet into the seabed for boats to do that, yeah maybe after fifteen years it’ll offset all the carbon that it took to build it…I think there are a lot of people with their heads in the sand. We have lots of supporters who don’t even live on the Cape.
6. If this project actually fails to go through
and ends in a victory for your group, what kind of projects will you continue
to pursue and what trends might be set from this win?
We’re sort of a one-trip pony. We’re not sure what we’d do other than we’re trying to do…is to have a national marine sanctuary. It is that unique; there might be some impact. That would be perfect. Look at a navigational chart, and it’s really unique between the islands and the water. There’s a four-knot current between…and it goes right across Horseshoe Shoal. It’s a huge fishery for squid; if you ask any fisherman where they fish. And squid spawn in Horseshoe Shoal; who knows what the impact is going to be. We just recently had a victory in of the Endangered Species Act; we didn’t but in the court… They were relying on the word of Cape Wind but not doing their own studies. Mashpee – that’s where the closest turbine will be… 4.8 miles. Hyannis to Nantucket memorial weekend (sailing race).
We’re sort of a one-trip pony. We’re not sure what we’d do other than we’re trying to do…is to have a national marine sanctuary. It is that unique; there might be some impact. That would be perfect. Look at a navigational chart, and it’s really unique between the islands and the water. There’s a four-knot current between…and it goes right across Horseshoe Shoal. It’s a huge fishery for squid; if you ask any fisherman where they fish. And squid spawn in Horseshoe Shoal; who knows what the impact is going to be. We just recently had a victory in of the Endangered Species Act; we didn’t but in the court… They were relying on the word of Cape Wind but not doing their own studies. Mashpee – that’s where the closest turbine will be… 4.8 miles. Hyannis to Nantucket memorial weekend (sailing race).
______________________________________________________________________
Cory Warren
April 18, 2014
1:49PM
1. How did you first hear about this topic or take interest in
it?
In my
Advanced Placement English Language class, my teacher, Bud Schermerhorn framed
a discussion of rhetorical strategy around the Cape Wind dilemma. We negligent
high schoolers had no informed ideas about the project. After hearing his
complex deconstruction of the issue, I wanted to learn more.
2. How has the media shaped the way this topic has been
disseminated to the people? Has the coverage shifted at all from when the
idea was first proposed to now, in its near-construction stage?
I think
the media has backed off a bit; it used to be all over the papers, now it's
only brought up in the media if there's a major dispute. Our representative in
Congress, Bill Keating has signed legislation to advance the pro-Cape Wind
front. Though it seems like it's set in stone, the people of the Cape remain
engaged in the problem, I think.
3. This topic is political, environmental, and
personal. Is there something unique about living in this Cape
Cod/Nantucket area that might be affected, positively or negatively, by the
project going through?
There
are a few major arguments against Cape Wind. The first is the sight
obstruction; people who live on the southern shores of the Cape and Islands
do not want to look out across the Sound to the sight of wind turbines.
There was also an animal rights lobby against Cape Wind for a while, because
turbine rotations were killing off a significant number of indigenous birds. So
there are the personal and the environmental sides to the counter-argument. The
politics of the issue come down to the liberals and non-liberals on Cape.
Though we tend to be "Blue" territory, the Cape's demographics
(specifically in wealthier areas) show that there are both a significant
minority of conservatives and, like the rest of the state, a majority
of unenrolled independent voters. I think people on Cape
are generally interested in conserving energy and advancing more sustainable
technologies -- that goes for conservatives and liberals -- because of our
surroundings. The beaches are eroding, the pollution on Cape is worse than
ever, and when people are surrounded by beauty, they don't let politics
interfere with its preservation.
4. By now it seems that there have been two real sides to the
discussion--those who wanted the wind farm and those who did not. But
what other voices might be missing?
The
Cape Wind discourse has distracted from the lobbies that are advocating for
other methods of sustainable energy production. When people get caught up in
the politics of one issue, they are totally distracted from other solutions. I
would conjecture -- though I'm no expert on sustainable energy -- that many
other energy projects have been quelled by the Cape Wind controversy.
5. How informed do you think people are on this topic? What
about you personally?
Most
people are informed by either personal or environmental concerns. A personal
concern that is represented expansively on Cape is "NIMBY-ism" or
the "not-in-my-back-yard" argument; people don't want the noise
and sight of turbines to compromise the beauty of the Cape, especially the
older constituency on Cape, which likely doesn't understand the need for
sustainable energy and finds the whole issue a nuisance.
6. Where do you receive most of your information about Cape
Wind? Have you done any outside research? If so, who did you get in contact
with or where did you go for answers?
I have
derived most of my information from people I know and The Cape Cod Times,
the most politically neutral news source on Cape. I have been exposed to both
sides of the argument, and I feel I am adequately, though not completely
informed on the issue to take a stance. I am of the more neutral camp -- I
sympathize with both sides, because both are attempting to preserve something I
do not want to lose -- the natural beauty of the Cape and the overarching need for
new energy sources that do not damage the environment.
7. Is there someone you know who might be willing to speak
further on the topic?
Mr.
Schermerhorn wrote a great article about Cape Wind; I'll email him and ask for
a copy. I would recommend going to The Cape Cod Times website and
searching for counterpoints on Cape Wind. Also, Representative Keating's
website is very informational and gives clear explanations of his stances on
Cape Wind.
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