Wind Energy Update

Massachusetts is the hot battlefield for wind energy. What happens here will no doubt impact how seriously wind is taken as an alternative energy source in the rest of the United States. And, last week, a lot happened regarding wind energy that didn't have anything to do with Cape Wind.

Hull, which already gets 12 percent of its energy from wind power, is hoping to install four turbines off shore, which will eventually lead to all of its energy coming from wind, the Globe reports. Even more interesting is the lack of fierce opposition to the plan, with the exception of lobstermen. Maybe it's because residents of Hull are able to see the beauty in a turbine.

Meanwhile, House speaker Sal DiMasi, who has been trying to quell a coup, got into a spot of trouble for adding an amendment to an ocean-protection law that would allow wind farms to be built "close to shore." But, what is getting the goat of DiMasi's foes or frenemies is that DiMasi is buddies with Jay Cashman, who wants to kick off a wind-turbine project. According to the Standard-Times, "The amendment was quietly tucked into a bundle of other amendments that was approved by the House in November. It was not filed by a House deadline, and some legislators were not even aware they were voting on it." Now, that amendment will be debated.

Image from the official Cape Wind website.