Wind Energy Spurs Northeast Wind Debates

Boston, Massachusetts - February 24, 2004 [SolarAccess.com]

This debate, which is free and open to the public, will be held from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. on March 10, 2004 in the George Sherman Union Auditorium at Boston University. It will feature experts on global energy trends and the wind energy resource.

The debate will be moderated by Cutler Cleveland, Director of the Center for Energy and Environmental Studies at BU. The panel examining the merits of the Cape Wind Project in the larger context of energy sources and uses in New England comprises Peter R. Borrelli, Executive Director of the Center for Coastal Studies; Jim Gordon, President, Cape Wind Associates; Seth Kaplan, Senior Attorney, Conservation Law Foundation; and Susan Nickerson, Environmental Director, Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound.

Just as conventional energy facilities (nuclear, coal, gas, and oil-fired generators) face opposition because of a variety of environmental and health concerns, objections are also being raised to the proliferation of wind turbines, despite their promise to make a significant clean energy contribution to the overall energy mix in the northeast. Why, if renewables are so beneficial, are strong voices being raised in protest? Much of the focus of this debate will likely be on the Cape Wind project proposed for Nantucket Sound because of its size, but we expect to discuss other project proposals and issues that go beyond that specific project's controversy. We expect to discuss real-world difficulties that face the developing regional market for renewable energy.

Boston University's Center for Energy and Environmental Studies (CEES) is hosting this event in conjunction with two nonprofits, as part of a multi-day clean energy and quality building conference and trade show to be held on the BU campus.

The sponsor of this event, SmartPower, is a non-profit marketing campaign dedicated to promoting clean air, healthy communities and energy independence -- all through the use of renewable energy. SmartPower seeks to have 20% of our energy come from clean, renewable sources by the year 2010.

This public forum is being convened by the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA), a 501(c)3 nonprofit educational organization that promotes sustainable transportation, clean energy generation, and quality building practices. The wind debate is scheduled as a precursor event to major regional conference and trade show. Building Energy 2004 will be held at Boston University on March 10-13, 2004.