The Oil Drum

The TOD team was contacted by Greenpeace today regarding the Coast Guard Reauthorization Act of 2005 (H.R. 889) introduced into Congress not long ago. Oddly enough (or not), Rep. Don Young (R-AK) included a provision in the bill that would block any wind farms from being built within 1.5 miles of any shipping lane.

From the letter that Greenpeace is asking people to forward to Congress:

The development of wind energy projects adjacent to shipping channels in other countries suggests that a 1.5 mile mandatory buffer is unnecessary.  Denmark and the United Kingdom are currently the world leaders in offshore wind energy, and both countries require a site specific review of impacts on navigation for projects 1/3 of a mile or greater from a shipping channel...In fact, the Middlegrunden wind farm in Denmark is within 1/3 nautical miles of a shipping channel, and there have been no negative impacts on navigation as a result of the wind farm since it was installed in 2001. In addition, this provision is more restrictive than laws dealing with other offshore structures, including oil and gas platforms that can be located within 500 feet of shipping channels.

I am heartened to see a report in Grist To John so many environmental groups taking on Robert Kennedy Jr's NIMBY opposition to wind power off the coast of Cape Cod. RFK Jr has been a prominent attorney for the Natural Resource Defense Council and has framed this issue as industry versus natural preservation:

"Some places should be off limits to any sort of industrial development. I wouldn't build a wind farm in Yosemite National Park. Nor would I build one on Nantucket Sound ... All of us need periodically to experience wilderness to renew our spirits and reconnect ourselves to the common history of our nation, humanity, and to God."

However, his continued vocal opposition  to the proposed 420 Megawatt wind project has forced a near civil war among environmentalists. However it seems that RFK Jr is being increasingly isolated on this issue as the alarm over global warming forces a long overdue prioritization within the environmental movement.

The best expression of the environmental movement's new tough love attitude was this:

Passacantando, executive director of Greenpeace USA, the debate comes down to weighing local NIMBY concerns against global climate concerns. "I respect people who wage NIMBY battles -- the environmental movement was founded on people protecting their local, sacred areas," he said. "But today, solving the climate crisis has become so urgent that it trumps NIMBYism. It's as simple as that."

This is a milestone for the environmental movement. It shows a new maturity to prioritize clean renewable energy production over NIMBY opposition even within their own ranks.