Mass. environment group releases wind energy report
By: Rebecca Turco
Email: rturco@abc6.com
FALL RIVER – A Massachusetts environmental group is pushing the benefits of wind energy, as world leaders meet in Paris to hash out a deal to reduce climate change.
“Wind is a great resource that provides clean energy without air pollution,” explained Julia Dougherty, campaign organizer for Environment Massachusetts.
The group’s report released Thursday shows that by 2020, an increase in the state’s wind power could cut out as much carbon pollution as taking 151,107 cars off the road – even more, if the state adopts offshore wind farms, which can produce almost double the amount of energy as traditional land turbines.
“If we don’t act and start including renewable sources like wind, we will continue to see huge super-storms like Sandy and huge record-breaking winters like we saw last year,” said Dougherty.
Environment Massachusetts is campaigning state lawmakers to approve renewable energy tax credits. “There are large startup costs associated with wind [energy],” explained Dougherty. “It’s really necessary to give the wind industry a boost [so] that they can continue to bring clean wind energy here to Massachusetts.”
Opponents are concerned these wind farms would be noisy eye-sores, though advocates counter the offshore turbines would be likely 15 or more miles out into the water.
If Massachusetts does install offshore wind farms in the next five years, Environment Massachusetts estimates as much as 400 megawatts of wind energy would be produced – enough to power 137,827 homes.
“If we act now on climate change and make the investments now for the future, we will leave a better place for our children,” Dougherty said.
© WLNE-TV 2015
