August 23, 2012
Massachusetts

Cape Wind opponents move to block FAA approval

John Zaremba | Boston Herald | www.bostonherald.com 23 August 2012

Cape Wind’s opponents are fighting the Federal Aviation Administration’s approval of the wind farm last week, saying the agency green-lighted the plans without concern for public safety and may have been strong-armed into doing so by the green-energy-pushing Obama administration.The Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound filed an appeal yesterday challenging the FAA’s “no hazard” determination last week, saying the 130-turbine project, about 5 miles offshore, would endanger small, low-flying aircraft.

“The FAA ruling shows a complete and utter disregard for public safety and flies in the face of last year’s decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals in D.C. to revoke Cape Wind’s aviation safety permit,” said Audra Parker, president of the Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound. “Cape Wind would place 130 massive turbines, each over 40 stories tall, in the heart of Nantucket Sound. It’s abundantly clear to virtually everyone outside of the FAA that it poses serious safety risks to the flying public.”

The FAA has twice ruled that the project will not threaten air traffic; its initial approval was overturned in October 2011 as part of a federal lawsuit by the town of Barnstable. An appeals court ordered the agency to redo its review, leading to last week’s “no-hazard” determination.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/08/23/cape-wind-opponents-move-to-block-faa-approval/