It’s no surprise, really, that Minerals Management Service, a federal agency whose boss is widely regarded as the president with the worst environmental record in U.S. history, does not care about our environment nearly as much as we do. The draft environmental impact report released Jan. 14 regarding the proposed industrial wind development regards as minimal many impacts that we know to be major.
For example, regarding bird mortality, the report cites “little information available that thoroughly quantifies nocturnal migration over the ocean” and gives it a pass. We who live here and love Vern Laux’s columns know about the wonder of the millions of birds that migrate through here at night. Furthermore, they are drawn to lights, which confuse their migratory instincts, and these turbines would have lights. Why aren’t nocturnal studies required?
The only people we can rely on to protect the nature of the Cape are those of us who live here, who know it intimately, who walk the beaches, swim and sail the waters. We are the ones who need to protect its unique natural beauty and wildlife that bring people here from around the world. It’s time to get busy.
Martha Powers
West Yarmouth
20 January 2008
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2008/01/20/only-cape-codders-can-protect-cape-now/