The following description appears on a site, launched by the US Chamber of Commerce to fight NIMBY experiences with respect to green power/projects.
One of the promises in the development and deployment of new energy technologies is the creation of “green jobs,” and it is a promise we embrace. But the sad fact is all too often these “green jobs” run afoul of “green tape.” Even more unfortunate is that many of the same groups who are thinking globally are often acting locally to stop the projects that would create jobs and reduce CO2 emissions. These “Not In My Back Yard” folks, or NIMBYs as they are called, block energy projects by organizing local opposition, changing zoning laws, opposing permits, filing lawsuits, and bleeding projects dry of their financing. And far from just blocking modern coal plants; the truth is that they really don’t want a wind farm or any other energy source either.
Project No Project is an interactive venture that seeks to tell the story of NIMBY and its damaging impact on jobs, infrastructure and economic prosperity. Through Project No Project, the U.S. Chamber seeks to provide the cold, hard truth about NIMBY and radical environmental activism, and make our leaders finally pay attention to this growing problem.
Check out this site: http://pnp.uschamber.com
Special thanks to Professor Keith Hirokawa for alerting me to this link.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, ‘Green Tape ties up energy projects’ states their, “Web site highlights Cape Wind, the nation’s first proposed wind farm planned for Nantucket Sound, Massachusetts. This project can’t get off the ground because of opposition from activist groups who argue, among other reasons, that local ocean views will be spoiled.”
The “unreasonable opposition”, U.S. Chamber also cites, is far better informed about Cape Wind than is the “unreasonable proponent”, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Many EXPERT NIMBY(s)follow the principles of good stewardship. We stress reliance on Best Science and applicable laws that serve the interests’ of the public, Sovereign Nations as Federally Recognized Tribes, Public Trust, and public lands that include our ocean resource.
EXPERT NIMBYs jealously guard endangered species, archaeologically sensitive areas, Essential Fish Habitats, Sacred Land, public use rights, heritage trades, historic whaling ports, unique scenic vistas that include wild landscapes and the windows to our past, National Historic Landmarks, the unspoiled and the aesthetically pleasant from “sea to shining sea”.
Such are the features unique to Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket Island,
and this amphibious resource upon which we depend, Nantucket Sound.
The preponderance of evidence suggests that these values, rights and unique features, as well as public safety, are all threatened by Cape Wind.
The most important public policy decisions are made with priority consideration given to public safety. Zoning of our coastal waters has not yet been addressed. Zoning is police power that establishes order to avoid chaos that invites public safety hazards where zoning does not exist.
It most certainly does not serve the public interest to construct Cape Wind upon which the FAA has issued: “Determination of Presumed Hazard”. The lead federal regulator, Minerals Management Service, final environmental impact statement represents that Cape Wind may alone cause 1.43 vessel strikes per year.
I would like to disclose that I live 1 ½ hours drive time away from Cape Cod. I am accurately described as a Cape and islands’ tourist. If the U.S. Chamber of Commerce still wishes to identify me as an “EXPERT NIMBY”, I will proudly wear their label.
I have been conducting independent research on the subject of Cape Wind and wind energy for six years. My initial objection to Cape Wind was based on my opinion that 130, 440’ wind turbines installed there would lead to aesthetic degradation of this internationally recognized tourist destination location, a favorite of mine.
Consideration of the visual image of Cape Wind 130, 440’ proposed wind turbines over 24 square miles of Nantucket Sound offends me. And my right to Nantucket Sound aesthetic value is assured under the National Environmental Policy Act.
I consider the Cape Wind precedent-setting privatization of the submerged land of Nantucket Sound, and the proposed alternative development of our Outer Continental Shelf, to be an action that shifts public rights to our precious finite ocean resource to private entities, to be a very serious matter that presents conflicts that must be resolved before the fact.
Minerals Management Service, under new OCS rules, is now poised to divest the public of our “our” precious resource. Since Thornwald and the Vikings and Gosnold fished in Nantucket Sound, and named Cape Cod for the abundance of this fish, an active fisheries has continued here as practiced by at least three nations that include Federally Recognized Tribes.
Cape Wind’s proposed industrial scale wind facility represents a public safety hazard according to its users and experts of aviation and navigation as those most familiar with Nantucket Sound. First and foremost as a U. S. Chamber of Commerce identified “EXPERT NIMBY” from the State of Massachusetts, I reasonably object to this plan on that basis.
Thank You,
Barbara Durkin
EXPERT NIMBY
http://bjdurk.newsvine.com/_news/2009/05/01/2762454-cape-wind-faa-notice-of-presumed-hazard-
http://bjdurk.newsvine.mobi/_news/2009/03/11/2534556-dear-secretary-salazar-please-do-not-sign-off-on-cape-wind-
http://bjdurk.newsvine.com/_news/2009/02/05/2400385-even-rich-nimbys-cant-afford-cape-winds-energy?mode=edit
By: Barbara Durkin on May 4, 2009
at 8:44 am