Protecting the environmental sanctity of Cape Cod

I support clean energy alternatives for Massachusetts residents as a way of safeguarding the environmental sanctity of our Commonwealth (and, in particular, our beautiful Cape Cod). However, sometimes there are decisions that are made that aren’t in the best interests of Cape residents. In November, I attended public meetings about the Mid-Cape Reliability Project, which would install high-power electric cables from offshore wind turbines underneath Dowses Beach and Craigville Beach in Barnstable and through residential neighborhoods. I am very concerned about the environmental impacts, spanning air emissions, noise, traffic, waste, electric and magnetic fields, wetlands, water quality degradation, visual intrusions, and potential risks to health and safety, all of which have become focal points of contention within our community. I have asked our state Energy Facilities Siting Board to carefully weigh these concerns as they evaluate whether to approve this project, and to withhold their approval until all of these concerns are adequately addressed and a comprehensive reassessment is conducted.