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Cape Wind: Money, Celebrity, Class, Politics, and the Battle for Our Energy Future on Nantucket Sound | 
 enlarge | Authors: Wendy Williams, Robert Whitcomb
Publisher: PublicAffairs
Category: Book
List Price: $26.95
Buy New: $7.94
You Save: $19.01 (71%)
New (5) Used (11) from $4.45
Rating:  31 reviews
Sales Rank: 58263
Format: Bargain Price
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1
Pages: 326
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.3
Dimensions (in): 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.4
Dewey Decimal Number: 333.920916346
ASIN: B00119R642
Publication Date: May 7, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| • | Hardcover - Cape Wind: Money, Celebrity, Class, Politics, and the Battle for Our Energy Future on Nantucket Sound | | • | Kindle Edition - Cape Wind: Money, Celebrity, Class, Politics, and the Battle for Our Energy Future on Nantucket Sound | | • | Paperback - Cape Wind: Money, Celebrity, Energy, Class, Politics, and the Battle for Our Energy Future |
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Product Description
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.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 26 more reviews...
 Page-turner brought tears to my eyes- Required reading August 18, 2008
Matthew J. Gordon (Collegeville, PA USA)
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.
 Wind Power Play July 27, 2008
A. Hennessey (Somerville, MA United States)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
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?
 Local Politics And Energy Policy March 26, 2008
R. Silva (Cape Cod MA USA)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
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.
Interesting Point Weakened by Questionable Writing March 22, 2008
Michael Lima (Fresno, California USA)
7 out of 9 found this review helpful
Before I begin this review, I want to share my involvement with/knowledge of the Cape Wind project. I have no relationship with either side of the Cape Wind debate, and don't foresee having one either. My current knowledge about the project is limited to the Wall Street Journal review of this book, and the book itself. Thus, I approached the book with no preconceptions beyond my general opinion that we, as a society, need to take some action to diversify our energy generation capabilities.
With that as background, I found Cape Wind to have a very powerful thesis: namely, U.S. government policy and law is shaped by moneyed interests more than by democratic principals. While this argument isn't new, Williams and Whitcomb breathe new life into the debate by depicting the unnecessarily torturous drama that is the Cape Wind project's saga. The fact that politicians from both political parties (Senators Edward Kennedy, John Warner, Ted Stevens; Representative Don Young; Governor Mitt Romney) are shown engaging in obstructionist behavior strengthens their case.
While the facts of the case are compelling, it's sad to say that Williams' and Whitcomb's editorial decisions frequently weaken the effectiveness of their argument. While it's okay to have an opinion on the project, Williams and Whitcomb let their strong biases in favor of the venture color their writing. This bias is especially apparent in their fawning portrayal of the project's leader, Jim Gordon. For writers that are reporters, this lack of balance is surprising. Also surprising are the grammatical errors and spelling mistakes that populate the book's first edition (my favorite is on page 36, where Marie Antoinette is described as the "....wife of Louise XVI...."). Finally, the book is hampered by the project's status, which the authors imply is ongoing as of the book's publication. Thus, the reader is given no end to the story. By printing this book before the issues surrounding the project had been resolved (along with the other flaws mentioned earlier), the reader is left with the impression that the book is a propaganda piece designed to attract new supporters and excite the existing supporters before the next round of hearings begin.
Cape Wind has a great premise, and plenty of evidence to support that premise. The fact that the evidence is so overwhelming makes the book as effective as it is. However, if the authors had taken a little more care and balance in presenting that material, they would have been more effective in both proving their thesis and raising sympathies for the Cape Wind project.
Yes, but HOW was the information optained for the book???? March 16, 2008
Inge Perreault (Portugal)
2 out of 4 found this review helpful
As the former Director of the first off-Cape Chapter of CLEAN POWER NOW representing the South Coast which I founded in New Bedford, while living in Fairhaven, and following the Bouchard oil-spill disaster, I used to be a staunch supporter of the project. About a year and a half later, having been involved and being privileged to a lot of information others were not, I one day received an e-mail from a "science writer Wendy Williams" asking me to share my information and experience with her for the purpose to be used in a book she was allegedly writing entitled "The Demise of the American Democracy."
I consented and invited her for lunch, spent an entire Sunday afternoon with her walking the beaches, sharing information and showing her the documentary I took part in that was made after the oil-spill. This film went as far as being shown to the Head of the Coast Guard in Washington D.C. I had testified in front of the DEP, EPA and in favor of the project in front of the Corps of Engineers (check my name Inge Perreault on google.com or yahoo.com)
While the information Ms. Williams reports makes for an interesting reading experience giving an insight look into the politics and influence of money and power - the way the information was obtained baffled me. When I contacted Ms. Williams a few days later she could not be reached and I was informed the following day by the then Director of CLEAN POWER NOW on the Cape to never contact Ms. Williams again. You can imagine my astonishment! My following e-mails as well as telephone calls to her were never returned or answered.
Why then was I misled as to the purpose of her visit, my sharing privileged information with her for a book under the title "The Demise of the American Democracy" when I was in favor of the project, knew the person trying to build it and had worked hard pro-bono, obtained grants and spent countless hours such as arranging for events by Ross Gelbspan speaking about his books "THE HEAT IS ON" and "BOILING POINT" for over a couple of years by then, intent on improving our environment?
The answer to that question is still an enigma to me and makes me question the true motive behind the book that was published under the title "CAPE WIND...." as well as who paid for the book to BE published. Wendy Williams blatantly lied to me, used me and then did not even have the courage to confront me personally - while I was voted that spring "Earthmother 2005" in New Bedford.
Being an author myself such behavior truly makes me wonder why this book was written in the first place and tells me a lot about the tremendous influence of money and power on both sides of the fence.
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