Opinion/Letters: Barnstable Town Councilors mum at special meeting to discuss windfarms
I subscribed to the Cape Times over a year ago in the hope of being kept informed on the issue of offshore wind and cables landing on Dowses Beach, yet to date the lack of objective reporting by this paper has been all too evident and one-sided.
With all due respect, there were a lot more than 360 people in attendance at Barnstable's special meeting Monday at Barnstable High School, and I would think that the Times would be able to take a headcount as opposed to citing "the number of programs (actually an agenda) passed out".
There was no mention that the Barnstable Town Councilors who were present (two were absent) were facing the stage along with the town manager and town attorney sitting in the two front rows of the auditorium, rather than the citizens who were there to make their concerns known!
“At the outset of the discussion, Town Manager Mark Ells emphasized that the town is not a proponent of the projects, and officials would do their best to answer questions,” the Times report said. In answer to my question, submitted earlier through Barnstable Speaks and the first one read, "Do you believe that sending a cable of this magnitude under a small beach and a small community is more appropriate than landing it in a commercial area?” Mr. Ells, in his rebuttal, actually said that he did not have a problem with this aspect of the project.
In fact, no councilor answered any question — they left it up to the town manager to speak for them. Nor could anyone answer a very salient question: “How many Cape homes will be powered by the projects?”
Avangrid’s Ken Kimmell told the Times, "They (council members) heard from a wide range of voices. I was encouraged by the fact it wasn't monolithic. There was some opposition but there were a lot of people in support."
Some opposition? A lot of people in support? Of the 50 or so citizens who spoke, I counted maybe three or four in favor of the projects.
Having to petition to get a hearing in front of the town’s councilors, downplaying the number in attendance, exaggerating the town’s opposition to the project and inability to fight the federal or state government, and evading the actual financial implications — all point to the fix being in! There are simply too many unknowns here to allow these projects to proceed!
I encourage all town citizens to vote accordingly on Nov. 7th!
Tom Scanlan, Osterville
Climate change-fueled beach erosion drew no response at Barnstable wind energy meeting
As I sat in the audience at Barnstable Town Council’s special meeting at Barnstable High School on Monday, I was struck by the Orwellian contrast between many of the comments and the nominal goal of the group who petitioned for this event. “Protect our Beaches” must include slowing climate change and reducing dependence on fossil fuels. Yet the loudest applause in the sparse audience was for anti-progress comments, such as the current financial challenges the wind company is facing.
When there was an audience comment about climate change and the outsize role that a marine wind farm can have on it, the beach protectors kept their arms folded. Mr. Orwell would recognize this behavior.
I was also surprised by the many empty seats in the auditorium after their petition seemed to indicate such a groundswell of voter sentiment. Clearly, the petitioners are a vocal minority. But they may confuse the majority, who don’t have the wealth and discretionary time to worry about a year or two of road or beach parking lot construction. Or maybe they’ve been to Covell’s Beach, which is better now than it was before the cable came ashore there.
Native Americans came to the Cape 400 generations ago. What will we today leave for those who wish to come here 400 generations hence? We have repeatedly missed opportunities to act appropriately on environmental issues. We failed to install sewers in the 1990s when most of the costs would have been borne by federal dollars. We failed to get the first wind farm that was proposed because it might have been visible from the Kennedy compound. We must not miss this opportunity to mitigate climate change with offshore wind, for our children and those who come to the Cape 400 generations from today. Protect our beaches.
Steve Waller, Centerville
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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Letters: Barnstable special meeting on windfarms draws mixed reaction
