Tell your senators not to kill plans for America's first offshore wind farm

An amendment to a Coast Guard bill is threatening Cape Wind, which would be the first offshore wind farm in the United States. Tell your senators to oppose the amendment and protect this important renewable energy project. A sample letter is as follows:

Dear Senator ,

I strongly urge you to vote to remove Sen. Stevens' offshore wind farm amendment from the Coast Guard Authorization Act (H.R. 889). Offshore wind energy has the potential to offer our country an inexpensive domestic source of energy that is clean, renewable and reliable. Yet Sen. Stevens' amendment would essentially kill the Cape Wind project, our country's first offshore wind farm.

During its construction and operation, Cape Wind would create jobs and increase tax revenues in the region. And once operational, it would be able to meet about 75 percent of the electricity needs of Cape Cod and surrounding islands, helping to reduce fossil fuel consumption and cut global warming pollution from power plants.

Sen. Stevens' amendment would arbitrarily allow Massachusetts Governor Romney to veto Cape Wind even if the Coast Guard concludes that the project poses no navigational hazard. Even though a majority of Massachusetts residents support Cape Wind and the Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Board has approved the project, Governor Romney opposes allowing the wind farm to be built.

For the past five years, Cape Wind has been subject to an ongoing rigorous environmental review process that is examining all aspects of the project, including wildlife and navigational issues, to ensure that any appropriate protective measures are adopted. Sen. Stevens' amendment, inserted behind closed doors without any hearing or debate, would arbitrarily single out and kill this project.

Development of America’s offshore wind industry would benefit both our environment and our economy. Please protect Cape Wind and remove Sen. Stevens' amendment before passing the Coast Guard Reauthorization Act.

Sincerely,