Activists from Appalachian coalfields speak on behalf of Cape Wind project

This could be a historic moment in the transition toward renewable energy that will inevitably come because coal will not be forever.  -Carl Shoupe, Benham, KY

Five residents of Appalachia, from Kentucky, Virginia, and West Virginia went to a public hearing to express support for a proposed wind project in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.  The Cape Wind Project would be the first near-shore wind project in the United States and would consist of 130 wind turbines 6 to 9 football fields apart in Horseshoe Shoals region of Nantucket Sound.  The turbines will appear to be a half-inch on the horizon and would provide 75% of the total annual average electricity usage for Cape Cod and the Islands. 

Carl Shoupe, a KFTC member from Harlan county who attended the hearing, drew connections between the debate around wind power in Cape Cod with the debate around mountaintop removal coal mining in Appalachia, "The opponents in Cape Cod were worried about their view of the ocean.  Here in the mountains, we worried about our continued existence, and the industry would like to appear like that mountaintop removal and other practices that are already against the law are not having a negative impact.  The coal supply to Massachusetts comes from Debord, Kentucky and Raul, West Virginia, so I think it was just as important that we were there as it was for those who are on the coast.â€

The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) assessed over 100 different areas of environmental, social, and economic impact and found minor to negligible impacts of the project on the natural environment.  Many supporters of the project are concerned about the long-term impacts of climate change.  Residents of Appalachia thought it was an opportunity to educate people about the current impact of their energy use.

Carl reflecting on the trip:

One of my other purposes in going up there is that we are working MIT to initiate wind power in our region.  If the Cape Wind Project goes forward, this is very encouraging to us and our little community.  This could be a step in the right direction to generate wind power and related-jobs in our community.

Why couldn’t we have an alternative energy industry here in the mountains that could provide jobs for people to stay and thrive in our communities?  Since getting involved and becoming more knowledgeable about renewables, I found that a lot of communities across the nation are creating good new jobs.  I want that for Eastern Kentucky too.

This project has been under review for seven years.  These most recent hearings were in regards to the second Draft Environmental Impact Statement performed by the Minerals Management Service under the Department of Interior.  The public comment period for the DEIS is through April 21st, 2008.