The Cape Wind Project Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The Cape Wind Project - Term Paper Example The groups supporting the project include major national and international organizations such as Greenpeace, Union of Concerned Scientists, World Wildlife Fund, and the Natural Resources Defense Council. Â  The supporters of the project believe that it has immense potential of generating energy without the use of fossil fuels and promises an environmentally friendly approach, besides the fact that it could generate huge employment opportunities in the surrounding areas. The opponents, however, disagree arguing that it would cause damage to the aesthetic and historical sites thereby deteriorating and disturbing the natural environment. Â  Although the technical aspects that posed potential obstacles to the offshore energy development project are largely resolved, the concerns over the social, political, environmental and economic aspects are still a matter of grave concern and continue to be debated across the country which tends to avert investment in such a phenomenal project. According to a survey conducted in 2005, the opponents of the project comprised of 42.4%, of Cape Cod residents, 24.6% of those who supported it and 33% who were still undecided (Firestone, Kempton, 2007). Some of the major social, economic and political issues concerning Cape Wind are discussed hereunder. Â  Social: The tourism industry in the Cape Cod, Nantucket, and Martha’s Vineyard regions could flourish and prosper immensely as a resultant impact of the Cape Wind project. The developers intend to promote recreational tourism which is likely to benefit the boaters and fishermen in the nearby areas. It is an environmentally friendly approach towards generating energy which is more beneficial than any other alternative sources of energy development including hydropower or nuclear power (Cape Wind, 2008). Â