Cape Wind Project Pros And Cons

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Was this a victory for Native Americans, or another example of Native rights and traditions being ignored, or something in between?
The Decision to proceed with the Cape Wind project turned out to have mixed results for the American Indians. Currently, the Cape Wind project is in limbo as they await final contracting and financial backing ("Cape Wind | America's First Offshore Wind Farm", 2017). Efforts are still ongoing to stop the planned wind farm or to potentially have the location moved. Despite the many factors that were presented to stop the Cape Wind project, it is likely that political influences may have assisted in pushing the project through the approval process. No matter what the final outcome will be, other wind farm developers …show more content…

Many of the complaints brought to the table range from environmental, economic, National Security, and Tribal concerns. Two Wampanoag Tribes, the Aquinnah and the Mashpee, have taken legal measures to delay and hopefully to cease the planned construction in the historically significant sound (Parker, 2013). The Wampanoag argue that the portion of the sound in question is their ancestral home, which contains ancient artifacts and an ancient burial ground. Another concern of the Wampanoag, is that the windmills will disrupt their ceremonial welcoming of the sun ("Proposed Cape Cod wind farm halted by Native Americans", 2017). Based on the several historical sites surrounding the Nantucket Sound, in addition to the claims set forth by the Wampanoag, the National Park Service believes that it qualifies for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. The Wampanoag and other opponents of the Cape Wind project, are not adverse to green energy, they simply want the location changed. Though Cape Wind’s investor Energy Management, Inc., is interested in obtaining leases in the Massachusetts/Rhode Island Wind Energy Areas, Cape Wind refuses to change the location (Parker, …show more content…

These events have brought to light that the mistreatment and disregard of tribal rights are not just a thing of the past. The federal government continues to railroad American Indians for financial and political gain. Other wind farm hopefuls are paying attention to the lessons learned from Cape Wind. There are developers who are proactively working with tribes to ensure that the best locations for wind mills are found. For example, Deepwater Wind, which is based out of Providence, Rhode Island, is planning their own wind farm in the vicinity of Block Island. The concern is that the windmills will be on ancient Narragansett land, similar to the concerns of the Wampanoag and Cape Wind. With the assistance of the University of Rhode Island and the Narragansett, Deepwater Wind is conducting tests to determine if there are any ancient artifacts that are located at the planed windmill sites. Due to the Cape Wind fiasco, companies wanting to construct new energy sites are required to complete a site survey in order to receive their permits and to ensure that historical sites are not damaged. Though Deepwater Wind has not found any artifacts off the coast of Block Island, they have adjusted placements of windmills and cables due to what could have been stone tools (McDermott,

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