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Product Description This acidly funny account of the battle over an offshore wind farm is both a fascinating window on the business and politics of energy and a scathing portrait of the ruling class. When Jim Gordon set out to build a wind farm off the coast of Cape Cod, he knew some people might object. But there was a lot of merit in creating a privately funded, clean energy source for energy-starved New England, and he felt sure most people would recognize it eventually. Instead, all Hell broke loose. Gordon had unwittingly challenged the privileges of some of America's richest and most politically connected people, and they would fight him tooth and nail, no matter what it cost, and even when it made no sense. Cape Wind is a rollicking tale of democracy in action and plutocracy in the raw as played out among colorful and glamorous characters on one of our country's most historic and renowned pieces of coastline. As steeped in American history and local color as The Prince of Providence; as biting, revealing and fun as Philistines at the Hedgerow, it is also a cautionary tale about how money can hijack democracy while America lags behind the rest of the developed world in adopting clean energy.
CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.0 based on 33 reviews)
One of the most biased books I have ever read As an environmentalist, I was very interested in reading this book when I heard about it. What a disappointment! This book is so one sided that it becomes difficult to read. The authors are so enamored with Gordon that it is just painful. For example, in chapter three the author tells us three times that when he had his first company he was 32 - three times! Who cares? This is not the David and Goliath story that the authors want you to believe. This story is about a really rich guy fighting with some even richer guys so that he can become even richer too - by using public land for his private gain. Very disappointing. November 20, 2008
interesting review of opposition to good ideas Cape Wind, by Wendy Williams and Robert Whitcomb, is a fascinating review of the early days of the Jim Gordon's project to build windmills in Nantucket Sound. The book was published in 2007 and is thus already a little out-of-date. The final chapter is not very hopeful about the prospect of wind energy ever coming to Nantucket Sound, but since then many legislators and several governors have endorsed the Cape Wind Project. Reading the book, though, is well worth the time. Williams and Whitcomb perform a huge public service by exposing the machinations of landowners who didn't want to see windmills in their waterfront views. The authors begin with a public meeting called by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. A wealthy actor sputters somewhat uncontrollably about the "hallowed ground" which he feels he would lose if windmills were built in the Sound. Then you learn about the "Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound." This "Alliance" is a none-too-savory collection of fossil-fuel investors, wealthy waterfront land-owners, and pandering politicians. Subsequent chapters flesh out various members of the Alliance. The Kennedy history is interesting, especially since Ted Kennedy has usually seemed to work for the good in much of his political career. Bunny Mellon's story is also fascinating. Her association with Jack and Jackie Kennedy and her vast inherited wealth gave her the power to amplify her opposition to towers within her view and to fund various lobbyists. Many other colorful characters from Cape Cod also make their appearance in the book as they try to set up various roadblocks to the wind project. Several politicians also get involved. Senator John Warner from Virginia plays an especially unsavory role as he interfered with the work of the Corps of Engineers. Apparently Warner used his position on an important Senate committee to attempt to bully the Corps into delaying the project enough to permanently stall the entire wind-farm. Mitt Romney did a characteristic flip-flop; first supporting wind energy and then actually working against Cape Wind. The stories of how wealthy donors and political cronies influenced these politicians is disheartening yet informative. There are several heroes in the book also. Jim Gordon rose from relatively humble beginnings to be a force in energy efficiency and development. Matthew Patrick, a Massachusetts state representative, was a voice of reason for his constituents even though many of the wealthy thought him to be a traitor. Many volunteers and activists fought valiantly for cleaner energy, even when the battle seemed to be going to the opposition. In summary, this is a well-written, interesting account of the difficulties faced by Jim Gordon and Cape Wind. If things go well, we will soon read this as a history of a few short-sighted individuals who tried to oppose a good environmental project. If things go poorly, we will read this as a history of the beginnings of a long-standing obstruction of saner energy policy. August 30, 2008
Page-turner brought tears to my eyes- Required reading As a life-long Democrat and frequent neighbor of the Kennedys in Hyannis I am sickened by the absolute abuse of power laid bare in this book by Kennedy, Mitt Romney, the Mellons, Delahunt and others. The book is a very entertaining and well-written page-turner, but it leaves me so angry that some misguided, ignorant, arrogant, asinine, yet powerful, rich folk can be allowed to hijack energy policy. This book should be required reading for anyone who cares about pollution, energy independence, democracy, and ultimately peace. The Osterville yachting crowd care more about maintaining their offshore playgrounds (which belong to the national public- not them!) than they do about the future of this country. With all their "Save Our Sound" signs- they really are asking the duped public to Save THEIR Sound to which they feel their millions entitle them to. And their "Not For Sale" signs- what a joke- they think their mansions have bought them the rights to some shoals 6 miles offshore. Darn right it's not for sale- to you! I am so pleased to notice that there are hardly any of their signs up anymore. People have finally wised up and realized this is no "grassroots" Alliance! This book has made me vow that if Obama does not support this project, then I will not vote for him. This will determine whether he truly represents Change or if he's just the same old story. This book may turn me into a one-issue voter. August 18, 2008
Wind Power Play Outside a Cape Wind public hearing at MIT in Cambridge, a group of activists put on an amusing parody of the moneyed interests fighting the wind power project, which is seeking approval for a site in Nantucket Sound off Cape Cod. Dressed in yacht club apparel, the protesters, sporting an affected speech, introduce themselves using names such as "Preston Peabody IV." They explain, in mock seriousness, all of their reasons for opposing the wind farm. The authors of Cape Wind go on to give a very lengthy transcript of this performance. In fact, I was pretty amazed at how long the segment was in the book, it just kept going. Then, I realized that this little skit was more than just a funny parody; it was exactly how the authors really viewed the rich opponents of this project. And that is ultimately the slight undoing of this timely and gripping tale. The book is a really fun read. I believe a blurb on the back cover says it is a "beach read." And so it is, containing all the elements one would find in a best-selling political thriller, but written in a breezy tone. Unfortunately, that tone crosses into snarkiness too often. And it becomes very clear within a few chapters that the Cape Wind opponents will play the corrupt beaurecrats, the stooge selectmen, or the elitists frothing at the mouth. How both business and the elite use government is the real thesis though. Local town meetings become showcases of celebrities, money is channeled through other non-profits and Army Corps of Engineer hearings are swamped with paid operatives who have connections to political campaigns. Meanwhile, in the Senate, secret committee meetings try to amend legislation for very specific and targeted means. The book is at its best when narrating the maneuvers of both sides around certain deadlines, hearings and laws. For instance, Cape Wind's Jim Gordon finds himself racing to get approval to build a data tower, (a device which will gather specific information about the winds in the Nantucket waterway.) The opponents keep trying to throw up judicial and procedural roadblocks as Gordon himself tries to rally his own lobbying efforts. All the while, there is a sprint against the coming winter, and Gordon knows he must get construction started before the ocean gets too rough. In the climax, Cape Wind faces a mysterious alliance of forces in Washington. Alaska politicians are trying to get an amendment into a Coast Guard Bill; the amendment seems to be specifically designed to end the Cape Wind proposal once and for all. It is in instances like this that the book is running on all cylinders and the intended thesis of the creators comes through loud and clear: Power is money and money is power. But rather than achieving a legislative version of A Civil ActionA Civil Action, the authors let their passion about what they have seen get the best of them a little too often. Making fun of politicians and the rich is easy, (although it is fun sport,) and they make the most of it. But in the end it is at the expense of their story. But then again, what is the ending? The book kind of stops rather than ends, because there is still much more to happen in the alternative energy saga in this country. One thing the authors do effectively is narrate periods when New England power grids were almost in meltdowns. On hot and cold days they desperately needed more power. Data shows that the wind turbines would have been able to supply at least some more. Maybe a sequel -Cape Wind II - is in our future? July 27, 2008
Local Politics And Energy Policy Cape Wind delves deep into the politics surrounding Jim Gordon and his proposal to build 130 offshore wind turbines in Nantucket Sound. From the town meetings in Barnstable to the halls of the Capiton in Washington DC, Whitcomb and Williams chronicle the effort to build the wind farm project and the surprising opposition it faced, often from politicians who were strongly on record of being in favor of alternative energy. Cape Wind is not an unbiased book. The authors clearly are in favor of the wind farm, and they make no effort to hide their perspective. It is, however, an exceptionally well-researched book, and an insightful look into the politics of some of the wealthiest communities in Massachusetts. The Cape Cod communities centered around Oyster Harbors (home of the DuPont and Mellon families) and Hyannisport (of the Kennedys) are profiled with extensive background information that shows the origins of their opposition to the wind energy project in the waters that were considered their back yard. Jeff Gordon, the energy entrepreneur behind Cape Wind is profiled, and the authors follow his victories and frustrations in the still-unresolved battle over the wind farm. With energy policy becoming a more serious priority every day, this book is essential reading for anyone interested in the challenges and hurdles facing the clean energy movement. It's also a great book on local politics, dirty and otherwise. March 26, 2008