It’s frightening that FAA caved to political pressure  

Credit:  Cape Cod Times | www.capecodonline.com 24 June 2012 ~~

I’m deeply concerned about the safety issues surrounding the proposed Cape Wind project after reading the June 16 report “FAA felt wind farm pressure.”

It’s disturbing to know that serious safety considerations are being influenced by politics, such as the decision to modify an existing radar system rather than replace it as recommended. This isn’t just some hypothetical scenario — real lives are at stake. The Federal Aviation Administration’s first priority should always be safety, and that the agency would put politics above the well-being of passengers, pilots and our communities is alarming and worthy of further investigation.

Unfortunately the FAA’s reaction is an all-too-familiar response when it comes to Cape Wind. For years the Patrick administration has shown extreme favoritism for this wildly expensive and outdated project, going so far as to force NStar to purchase more than a quarter of its power in exchange for approval of the utility’s merger with Northeast Utilities.

This type of political pressure is wrong and in the end it’s Massachusetts residents and businesses that will end up paying the price both in dollars and in lives.

Deke Ulian

Cotuit