Cape Wind: Money, Celebrity, Energy, Class, Politics, and the Battle for Our Energy Future

by Wendy Williams, Robert Whitcomb

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.

Genres: Nonfiction, Environment, Politics

352 pages, Paperback

First published May 7, 2007

About the author

Wendy Williams is a journalist whose work has appeared in The Boston Globe, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and The Christian Science Monitor, among many other publications. She is the author of several books, including Kraken and Cape Wind, and is a lifelong equestrienne. She lives in Mashpee, Massachusetts.

Reviews

[Hubert · Rating 5 out of 5]

A classic case of NIMBY-ism and politics at all levels interfering with our need to develop renewable energy sources. Williams and Whitcomb write with fervor and aplomb, pointing out the interpersonal and political dramas that throttled the effort to build wind turbines in Nantucket Sound. Though such efforts might seem to be disillusioning at first, the authors point to Cape Wind's multiple successes along the way, coupled with high levels of public pressure, that give ordinary people a glimmer of hope for a better environmental and climate future.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book. I enjoyed reading it, as the issue was close to home: literally, coming from the area and because my organization was one of the ones intimately involved with the project.

Only a couple of complaints about the book. The author was a bit verbose and a little corny when describing new characters in the book. As in she described their looks, what they were wearing, etc. When reading her little bio in the back, I noticed she left out what SHE looked like. Also, no matter whose side you are on, pro-Cape Wind or pro-Alliance, the Alliance group was fairly ridiculous in their tactics and blatantly were not playing fair. Those actions spoke for themselves and there wasn't the need to underline those issues any louder than necessary. It was like watching some poor person get beat up and then have somebody tell you how awful it was--we know, we watched it. Lastly, due to Ted Kennedy's death, the Cape Wind situation has changed quite a bit. I'd like an addendum added on.

Overall, interesting, a fun read, and educational in some ways. Think of me when you get to the section on the Conservation Law Foundation. We really backed that project and I was on the one who made all the powerpoint presentations that the president gave in support of the project! Of course, I wasn't mentioned, but I'm still part of the story to some tiny degree.

[Roger Gloss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cape Wind is a book about wind energy, politics, and the clash between the two. Cape Wind is a proposed wind farm five miles off the shore of Cape Cod. When this gripping account was written in 2007, the project had already faced more than six years of delays and obstruction. As of mid-2013 construction had yet to commence. The wind farm was bitterly opposed by wealthy residents of Cape Cod, including the late Ted Kennedy, in a classic case of NIMBYism (Not In My Back Yard). The project is still opposed by William Koch of Koch brothers fame.

The politics behind Cape Wind provide a valuable lesson in how broken Washington really is. In some cases even the project’s allies in Congress had spurious motivations, related to protecting their turf. The entire history of Cape Wind might be funny if it weren’t so sad.

Cape Wind inches forward today, but the story is still playing out and the outcome is yet unclear.

Cape Wind is far more important than its title implies. If you support clean energy, Cape Wind will make you angry. And if this book makes us angry, it performs a valuable service to our democracy.

[Harry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't read this book for the basics of Wind Power. The title - "...Money, Celebrity, Class, Politics...." - says it all: How rich people of Osterville and Hyannisport, motivated by Nimbyism ("it will destroy sailing as we know it"), empowered by Ted Kennedy's back-room politics, using the Cape Cod Times as its mouthpiece to advocate editorials as unbiased news, delayed construction of the Cape Wind project for close to a decade. The opponents were spoofed on the Jon Stewart show http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/ind...

This is a great summer beach read. The authors' clear bias moves the story along. The goodly proponents of Cape wind begin innocently enough, learning as they go from the dirty tricks employed by the bad opponents. The sub-text of this book is the gulf between how our democracy actually works and the ideals from which it began.

Definitely recommended.

[Desiree · Rating 4 out of 5]

Up until I read this book, I have had the utmost respect for Senator Ted Kennedy. That has gone down the drain! Yes, I know the Kennedy clan is rich and privileged. But, wait till you read about the behind the scenes politicking behind a proposed wind farm in Nantucket Sound. Kennedy, and Mitt Romney, former Mass governor and presidential hopeful do everything in their power to stop Massachusetts from erecting this wind farm that we so desperately need! God forbid that they have to look out the windows of their mansions and catch a glimpse of these turbines that are miles out to sea and barely visible! They are in favor of building dirty and dangerous coal and nuclear plants in the poor sections of the state and sending billions of US dollars to the Middle East for oil fired plants.

"Money and corrupt government officials are hijacking our nations economic and environmental future."

[Michelle Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

This subject had so much potential -- the back-room intrigue surrounding the Cape Wind project off Cape Cod.
Unfortunately, the authors get in the way of themselves with snarky digs and an insistence on painting the pro-wind folks as over-the-top heros, and all the anti-wind people with sleazy skeletons in their closets. And is it really necessary to insist on calling the former Massachusetts governor "Willard" Mitt Romney at nearly every opportunity? Not to mention the meandering side trips that have little connection to the subject at hand.
The book is so slanted that you can't really trust it's an honest look at the project. After reading it, I went back and read the 11-page New York Times Magazine piece on it. Much more satisfying.

[Sull · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was OK, but somehow not engrossing (for me, that is--husband liked it more).... It was written a bit simplistically, and very much agenda-driven, and I find myself uneasy reading propaganda, even if I agree with it. I wish there were half-star ratings available here on Goodreads--I would have given this book a two-and-a-half-star rating if possible, but it just didn't merit three stars for me.

However, I'm glad I forced myself to finish it (and didn't abandon it once it started irritating me, as is usual)because of course this project is still a real issue, still working its way through various courts, still emotive for many people, still hanging, pending, waiting to happen.

[Krista · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really was astounded by what this book has to say about what has happened with the wind turbine project proposed for Nantucket Sound. The power excercised by the political elite is not surprising, but is disgusting. Having heard the author speak, her claim that she is "neutral" is a bit disingenuous, she clearly favors the project, and demonizes the opponents. That is not to say that I do not believe what she has to say...I do. The naked and arrogant power wielded by our local, state and federal lawmakers sounds like an all-too-familiar tune. Scary, and well worth reading.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not a big non-fiction or politics reader, but this was really interesting. It made me so much more aware of environmental issues and community politics. Not to mention that it was easy to read because of my love of the Cape and everything about it. However, previously not knowing much about the Cape Wind issue, it leaves me wondering if the book had a lot of pro-Cape Wind spin on it or if it was a fair representation of the facts.

[Carla · Rating 2 out of 5]

I know I have no right to rate this book, since I didn't read very much of it. But, the prologue and beginning so completely turned me off, being fanatical and unacceptably one-sided on a controversial issue. The "bad guys" weren't just bad; they were evil! Come on, let's have a little perspective, huh??

PS, now that I have read Harry's review, I see he's much more patient and forgiving! Maybe I'll keep going on this before I give it back to him!!

[James Perry · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good, informative book about the Cape Wind project. The authors seem to relish exposing the outre maneuvers of the project's opponents, which is entertaining but does tend to diminish the gravitas of the book. Still, a well-researched and important addition to the debate about our energy future.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have any ties to Cape Cod, even a passing interest in Boston politics, or involvement in environmental issues - read this book. It's shocking to see people believe these things and behave this way. The Kennedys, special interest groups, even Mitt Romney are exposed.

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terrifically well-told (and true) story. Shout out to my friend Dennis Duffy, counsel to Cape Wind who is a primary source and is quoted extensively throughout.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably not everyone's cup of tea, but I enjoyed the deep dive into off-shore wind opposition in Cape Cod during the early 2000s. I wanted to understand why the Cape Wind project never came to fruition, and though this book does not cover its ultimate demise in 2017, by 2007 there was a strong understanding of the powers it struggled against.

Unfortunately, the book often devolved into smarm. The authors could have let the actions of Cape Wind opponents speak for themselves, but instead interjected their opinions and clapbacks loudly, turning off any readers that may be ambivalent about the project. I assume it was a deliberate choice on the authors' parts - probably to sell more copies by preaching to the choir - but disappointing nonetheless.

The book would have benefited from more read-throughs for trimming content. There wasn't too much extraneous information (even the topics that seemed like asides always tied back into the Cape Wind project), but the storytelling and narrative arc of the debacle was lost as the story progressed and instead read like an endless tit-for-tat dispute. I guess in some ways, it was...

[Mike Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

People's true colors come out in a conflict. That's the sad message here, as Sen. Ted Kennedy and other supposedly environmentally minded legislators said no to a wind farm because the view from their mansions couldn't be altered. Well reported and chronicled, although if it was a less blatant case I'd say they were over the top with their bias.

[Dan Galinko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Will never think the same of Ted Kennedy or Mitt Romney again. Major damage to the power grid and infrastructure in Massachusetts and the country more generally. The book is well researched but extremely one-sided in presentation. At least it's somewhat refreshing to read a book that is highly one-sided yet non-partisan!

[Katy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good topic. Very interesting angle on the subject.
But, the language is just too biased in favor of the project (and i say that even as someone who is VERY in favor of the project).
Read news magazine articles about Cape Wind- you'll get the same in depth analysis, but with a more academic/journalistic approach.

[Linda]

I've learned the story behind The Cape Wind project and the attitude in the NE states regarding wind turbines. Facinating politics,class struggles and entrepreneurial story.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would love for everyone to read this book!

[Selma · Rating 1 out of 5]

Embarrassing.

[Ken Elser · Rating 2 out of 5]

Amazing the politics AGAINST renewables in what should be a hot-bed of liberalism. I still like Ted Kennedy, but I have to work at it a bit more now...

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The coworker who lent me this book warned that it would make me hate Ted Kennedy. He was right!

[Marika]

aside from the fact that Zack could have written this when he was 11, the political intrigue is great.

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic journalistic book reads like a thriller.

[Mary]

AARP mag

[Sistaoip Test001]

Insightful book of the challenges facing our industry today

[Kara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eye opening book of politcs behind Wind Energy! I highly recommend this book!