Thank you for your coverage of the Cape Wind Project speaker on Thursday, Feb. 27 (“Cape windmill project would help environment, advocate says,” pg. 4). More education regarding economically viable, cleaner energy sources will make diffusion of these better “fuels” only happen more quickly.

While we believe that a lot of research rightfully should go into a project of this magnitude, it is discouraging that known polluting fuels have fewer barriers to their implementation than renewable wind energy, which must go through a rigorous regulation process.

Although there may be several ecological concerns about the use of wind energy, such as effects on migrating birds and marine mammals, these can only be determined by actual field studies, thus presenting the need for continued research into the Cape Wind Project.

Data from wind farms off the coast of Denmark have shown that these effects on wildlife and people are minimal. It can be determined from the Europeans’ use of wind energy that the overall effects of renewable energy on the environment are much less harmful than fossil fuels.

It may be true that the wealthy residents of Cape Cod will have to suffer the ‘burden’ of seeing tall masts (which the turbines will look like from shore) off the coast as part of their oceanfront view. But at the same time, they are gaining cleaner air and water due to the expected decreases in pollution as local fossil fuel-burning power plants close. Isn’t this a trade-off worth making?

Gina Barberio, CAS ’05 Co-Chairperson, Political Action Committee, Environmental Student Organization

Julie Palakovich, CAS ’05 Co-Chairperson, Political Action Committee, Environmental Student Organization