Stop Big Oil from Blowing Away the Competition

Representative Don Young is attempting to put an end to plans to build the nation's first offshore wind farm in Cape Cod. Representative Young's allegiance to the oil industry is no secret, but his attempts to kill wind energy were. By burying his amendment to the Coast Guard Reauthorization bill, Rep. Young believes he can get rid of big oil's BIG competition. It's time for YOU to prove him wrong.

Take Action >> Tell your Senators to blow off efforts to block wind energy.

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Dear Senator Cantwell, Senator Inouye, Senator Lautenberg, Senator Lott, Senator Smith, Senator Stevens, Representative Young, and 1 more,

I am writing in regard to the Coast Guard Reauthorization Act. The House version of this reauthorization injects the U.S. Coast Guard into this process unnecessarily and in the process harms the developing offshore wind industry.

The House language conflicts with the congressional intent of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The Energy Policy Act directs the Secretary of Interior to develop, in consultation with the Coast Guard and other agencies, "any necessary regulations."  The House reauthorization undermines that process, which has just begun.

This provision will also pre-judge the Coast Guard's decision-making by requiring them to prohibit any offshore wind farm from being located within 1 � nautical miles of a shipping channel or ferry route. This will restrict much-needed clean energy development from offshore wind farms but will not provide additional marine safety.

The development of wind energy projects adjacent to shipping channels in other countries suggests that a 1 and a � mile mandatory buffer is unnecessary.  Denmark and the United Kingdom are currently the world leaders in offshore wind energy, and both countries require a site specific review of impacts on navigation for projects 1/3 of a mile or less from a shipping channel. The exact process Cape Wind has been going through for four years. In fact, the Middlegrunden wind farm in Denmark is within 1/3 nautical miles of a shipping channel, and there have been no negative impacts on navigation as a result of the wind farm since it was installed in 2001. In addition, this provision is more restrictive than laws dealing with other offshore structures, including oil and gas platforms that can be located within 500 feet of shipping channels.

Please oppose any provision in the Coast Guard Reauthorization Act that requires new rules for assessing navigational safety for offshore wind energy projects.

"Sincerely," and your name and contact information will be added to the end of the letter.

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Stop Big Oil from Blowing Away the Competition

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