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A
plan for multiple wind turbines on town-owned land in Eastham has been put
on
hold
for now. Town leaders responded to residents’ concerns that the proposal
needed
work
and that the process needed more time.
But
this does not mean it is time to stop moving forward on wind energy
initiatives
in
Eastham, or in any other town for that matter. Rather, it is time to bring
more people
to
the table, bring additional brainpower to the planning process and start
utilizing a
ready
natural resource to replace pollution-generating fossil fuels.
In
Eastham, which is providing valuable lessons for the rest of the Outer
Cape towns,
one
step could be to create a working group that includes neighbors of the
first plan
to
help devise new proposals that will benefit everyone, wherever wind
generators may
eventually
be located.
At
the same time, plan public workshops with credible experts on wind energy
—
and
other renewable energy opportunities — so residents have a chance to ask
questions,
air
concerns and garner the real facts.
One
answer may be to not put all the eggs in one basket, so to speak: to
develop proposals
for
a variety of potential locations — give residents an opportunity to take
part
and
choose the best location or locations, not with the idea of killing this
important
initiative,
but with the goal of making it work.
Everyone
should participate. It is now time for all residents, year-round and
parttime
included,
to join the planning process, to take responsibility for helping the town
lead
the way in renewable energy.
Also,
as we’ve said here before, town leaders have a responsibility to draw
all residents
into
the discussion by planning and widely publicizing the meetings. And
residents
have
a responsibility to participate in a constructive and timely manner.
The
town is taking a first step in bringing a bylaw that would adopt state
guidelines
for
commercial turbines, in addition to one governing non-commercial turbines.
Clearly,
Phil
Hesse’s bylaw proposal, which effectively closes all doors on commercial
turbine
placement
within the town of Eastham, is not a viable answer.
Let’s
face it, the need for a variety of renewable energy projects is immediate,
for
every
town on the Outer Cape. And for the Cape Cod National Seashore, which by
federal
policy
is supposed to be supportive of alternatives to fossil fuel consumption.
And
frankly, the speed at which Eastham boards wanted to move on the turbine
project
was
an admirable part of their effort — other Outer Cape towns could take a
page
from
Eastham’s book of focus and dedication — even if the process needed
tweaking
and
its scope broadened.
Here’s
what we’d like to suggest: the four Outer Cape towns and the Seashore
should
work
together to develop a regional plan, an Outer Cape Energy Coalition —
maybe
even
Outer Cape Energy Alternatives Now (OCEAN) or Wind SWEPT (Seashore,
Wellfleet,
Eastham, Provincetown, Truro) Coalition, if you like acronyms.
Think
about harnessing the help of Mass. Audubon in Wellfleet, which recently
built
a
green building and is researching the development of wind energy on its
property.
Congressman
Bill Delahunt’s office has already pledged its dedication to helping the
towns
develop a renewable energy corridor on the Cape, to include biodiesel
accessibility
and
other “green” technologies.
And,
don’t forget to catch one of Keith Bergman’s presentations on Al
Gore’s “Climate
Project.”
There’s one at 7 p.m. March 15 in Eastham Town Hall.
Let’s
all work together. Let’s not waste the wind. This is one place where we
can make
a
difference, both globally and locally at the same time.
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