For your consideration: I’ve received replies from both Ed Markey’s and John Kerry’s offices regarding Cape Wind. I wonder about their appeals to the importance of “process”, since the process has changed due to the 2005 energy bill, which transferred authority from the Army Corps of Engineers — where it was expected to be approved — to the Minerals Management Service. In other words, is this a clarification of the approval process, or is it a regulatory shell game, designed to frustrate and paralyze the approval process?
Anyway, here are their stated positions.
Markey:
QUESTION: Does Rep. Markey support Cape Wind?
ANSWER: Rep. Markey would like to see Cape Wind get approval from the Department of Interior and the Coast Guard, but only after it goes through the regulatory process set up to answer legitimate questions concerning the environment and navigation. There should be no shortcuts in the environmental impact statement process, but there also should be no unnecessary delays. Wind is a huge contributor to the fight against global warming, contributing jobs and energy with no CO2 emissions So far, about 150 wind farms have been successfully permitted in the US ONSHORE. The pioneering aspect of Cape Wind is that it is the first OFFSHORE wind farm in the U.S., so this is a first-of-a kind project in the U.S. that really established the precedent for future wind projects. Rep. Markey does, however, believe it was a mistake to make an exception in the 2005 Energy bill, even for a wind project, to the general rule that a Governor should have the right to veto any major energy project offshore if he/she thought the public interest demanded it, because we do not have such an exception for other major energy projects, such as oil and gas. Governors have that right for other types of offshore facilities, and Rep. Markey believed that they should have the same powers for wind facilities.
QUESTION: Given his new influential position, does he plan to help move the evaluation process of Cape Wind through Minerals Management Service?
ANSWER: Now that Cape Wind is proceeding through the regulatory process, it is important for the future of all offshore wind projects that it be treated fairly. That means no unnecessary delays, and no shortcuts that would allow people to question the legitimacy of the outcome. Rep. Markey intends to continue monitoring the Environmental Impact Statement process.
And Kerry:
Senator Kerry is waiting until the final environmental impact statement comes out before making a decision on Cape Wind . MMS is moving ahead with its regulatory process. Senator Kerry has repeatedly said that he wants that process to move forward and will wait for the outcome.
Kerry does agree that wind power is a great alternative energy source, but believes that there needs to be a legitimate citing [sic] process.
Again: Is the new process somehow more legitimate than the old? How?
Isn’t that what Ian Boles OK’d a few weeks ago?
Sounds like:
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Markey – “Sort of Yes.”
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Kerry – “No comment until there’s no more political risk, at which point he’ll unabashedly step forward and suport the winning side. Meanwhile, buy my book.”
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But I’m not fluent in the language.
among these 2 for the weenie award – no profiles in courage here…
one of the things Democrats generally say in foreign policy is that we can have strong friendships where friends disagree. I think that’s about right, and should apply to the friends within the Massachusetts Congressional delegation. Kerry and Markey ought to be able to disagree strongly with Senator Kennedy over Cape Wind and not feel that they’re stepping on his toes or that their relationship will somehow sour.
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I’m willing to tolerate the middling language of Markey — won’t push for it, won’t push against it — since I’m fairly certain that Cape Wind will meet all the necessary standards. My uneducated guess is that, ultimately, this will pass if there is not too much “push-back.”
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On the other hand, I’m not really willing to tolerate Kerry’s “waiting until the final environmental impact statement,” since it doesn’t really address the question asked: does Kerry support Cape Wind? Was that all that they sent back?
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Also: if we want our politicians to have courage, Benny, we gotta demand it.
They’ve also got a possible offshore wind farm project in the works.
…Gutless wonders.
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Eight years ago, Delahunt told Electric Boat that it wouldn’t happen, and don’t bid. So, fabrication went to GE in Rhode Island. I’m sure those guys are very grateful. Along with all the IBEW workers who may now have a looooonnnnnggg cummute.
Does anyone doubt that in this state John Kerry is senator for life? Will the Republicans be able to even dig up a candidate? He could toss old folks off the subway platform and still be re-elected. So he votes against the initiative to keep friends with his multi-millionaire Island crowd. If he needs a decision, he’ll call Ted. He knows which side of his bread is buttered. Maybe he could recommend some snake-oil to energy deal for public relations purposes as in another post on this blog.
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He has no worries.
…although I’m not sure that’s a candidate in BMG terms.
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Jeff Beatty, who ran against Delahunt, has announced his intention to run. So yes, Kerry will be opposed.