Why does the government need to get involved
* Two word answer: Cape Wind.
The name of the BOEM offshore leasing process is "Smart from the Start" - in other words, Cape Wind foundered
on the inability to reconcile private interests (mainly rich/selfish folks on the Cape) with a private development
project that had gotten all the necessary permits from the feds, but not the good will of all sectors of the
An offshore wind provider
= \ without any government
" subsidies outbid a fracked
_ gas facility.
Peet
Foe
¥
4
= pany
Source: New York Times- “Germany Strikes Offshore Wind Deals; Subsidy Not Included”
Sample Resolution
* Whereas The State of New Hampshire has committed to 80
percent reduction in greenhouse gases by 2050, but has yet
to develop a plan to achieve that goal, and needs to work
toward a sustainable energy system to ensure protection of
the health of its people, environment, and economy before
this date, and
Please consider either a resolution, or a warrant on the ballot so that the
Governor can have confidence that Nashua clearly does (or does not)
support studying offshore wind
Sample warrant: By petition of eligible voters of town of NASHUA to see if the town will urge:
NH to join existing efforts in Massachusetts and Maine to study the feasibility of developing offshore wind power in
the Gulf of Maine, by providing written notice urging Governor Sununu to request the formation of an
intergovernmental task force.
What other NH Cities and Towns are Doing
The following cities have signed resolutions: Towns considering resolutions or warrants:
* Dover * Alstead
° Durham r Concord
¢ Exeter
¢ Portsmouth :
* Henniker
¢ Newcastle has a vote for offshore wind * Hopkinton
support on their agenda for town meeting o
in May cs
°* Marlborough
° Newfields
¢ Nottingham
* Rindge
* Rye
3. Technology Improved, Costs Declined
The technology used to generate electricity from wind has advanced significantly
Costs have also declined, making wind much more competitive with other methods of generating
electricity.
Commercial wind farms on land in the USA are successful, generating over 4% of all the
electricity in the nation in 2013; lowa and South Dakota generate 25% of their electricity with
wind.
The USA’s first offshore wind farm near Block Island is a success
2. Local Reliable Electricity
60% of electricity in NH is generated
from natural gas that comes from out of
state. This results in billions of dollars
leaving the state
Other projects like Northern Pass are still
coming to us from out of the country
Offshore wind turbines would be 12
Miles off the coast — much closer than
hydro from Canada, natural gas from
Pennsylvania, or oil from Latin America
(yet almost out of sight!)
1. Economic Benefit
¢ Thousands of LOCAL jobs QO
will be created LO _ ea
e Potential for 15 Billion
increase to coastal
economies
Why Would Nashua Need Offshore Wind?
1. Local Jobs and economic benefit
2. The ability to rely on LOCAL power
3. Cost of generating electricity from wind has declined
Significantly
4. Reduced atmospheric pollution — healthy community
