LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
To the Editor,

In a recent column published in this newspaper, Glenn Wattley made misleading statements about wind power and Cape Wind that I would like to address. Mr. Wattley is CEO of the organization that formed solely to oppose Cape Wind, he has a background working in the coal industry and he incorrectly argues that wind cannot help reduce our use of oil.

First, Mr. Wattley claimed that the much-publicized T. Boone Pickens energy plan proves that natural gas, not wind, can reduce U.S. dependence on oil. Mr. Wattley somehow ignores that the centerpiece of Pickens' plan is to dramatically increase the use of wind power to free up the natural gas now used in power plants to be used instead as a transportation fuel alternative to oil.

Anyone who's seen Pickens' TV ads filled with images of wind turbines realizes that wind power is a central component of his plan to reduce foreign oil. Pickens' website prominently cites a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) report from this year that shows how the U.S. can get 20 percent of its electricity from wind power by the year 2030. Notably, the DOE report also identifies shallow water offshore wind as playing a major role in achieving that goal for the Northeast and Mid Atlantic states.

In addition to the potential of wind power to free up natural gas to power vehicles, many leading environmental organizations are advocating a major shift to 'plug-in hybrid' car technology that would significantly decrease dependence on expensive oil.

Greater use of plug-in hybrids would also significantly decrease emissions of pollution and greenhouse gasses, but only if we shift more of our electricity production toward clean sources, like wind. Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Ian Bowles noted that Cape Wind's impact in reducing greenhouse gas emissions that are responsible for global warming would be like taking 175,000 cars off the road, each year.

It was revealing that Mr. Wattley singled out one hot and fairly calm day in June of this year to argue that Cape Wind would not be a useful source of energy during the times when electricity is most needed. He conveniently ignored the previous 11 hot summer afternoons when electricity had been in greatest demand - all 11 of which were windy!

Thanks to the sea breeze effect usually found on those hot summer afternoons, winds recorded by Cape Wind's scientific data tower on Horseshoe Shoal during 11 of the last 12 days of record electric demand in New England were well above average. Cape Wind would usually provide significant quantities of clean power during the times that electricity is most needed which would reduce the region's need to run the oldest, dirtiest and most expensive peaking power plants used to keep the lights on.

Beyond all the claims and counterclaims by advocates and opponents of Cape Wind, a comprehensive and rigorous Federal and State permitting process that has been underway since 2001 is finally approaching its conclusion.

If these public agencies determine that Cape Wind is in the public interest, that the site of Horseshoe Shoal in Nantucket Sound is appropriate, and that the project will be safe for air and sea navigation, Cape Wind will become a reality. In that event, we look forward to providing approximately threequarters of the electricity used on Cape Cod and the Islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket during average wind conditions.

The stakes on our energy choices have never been higher and the eyes of the world are upon our region to see what happens here. I believe that visitors from around the world will see the visible use of wind power as the Cape and Islands' thoughtful embrace of a more hopeful energy future.
Mark Rodgers
Communications Director, Cape Wind
North Falmouth
To the Editor,

I am writing this letter in response to your decision [Board of Selecment] regarding the "Holdgate" house on the island of Muskeget. The original structure was built by John Egle and Harry Luce in the early 1900s as a fishing shack, as noted in Edward Wayman Coffin's book "Nantucket's Forgotten Island: Muskeget." There was quite a large settlement on the northeast shore of the island comprising of some 20 to 30 buildings including the U.S. Lifesaving Station. In 1930, the building was acquired by my great grandfather, Adolf Ottison who 30 years later conveyed it to my grandfather, Allen Holdgate, Sr. Over the coming years, it was passed on to my father, Allen "Chookie" Holdgate, Jr. After my father's death in 1993, it was legally signed over to my oldest brother, Bill Holdgate. A few years later, my brother sold 50 percent to my friend Jason Briggs who was asked to help my brother out with financial problems. Eventually, Jason purchased the remainder from my brother.

My memories of Muskeget started as young boy flying in my father's Super Cub and boating for long weekends with family and friends. As kids, we would hear old stories about the island. We would catch lots of fish, clams and I can remember huge platters of lobsters. When home visiting from college, I would look forward to weekend trips with my family. I began to have an appreciation for nature and the outdoors and how special a place Muskeget was and is today.

I have been friends with Jason Briggs since we were three years old. He is the most generous person I have ever met and his intentions are to keep the Muskeget property in the Holdgate family. He also intends to keep the structural original and historic, as it remains one of two structures left on the island. I hope you [the Town of Nantucket] can understand the importance of Muskeget to me and my family and we can work together towards a solution that is satisfactory to all parties involved.
Sincerely,
Robert Holdgate

Editor's note: Letter originally written for the Board of Selectmen.