美國通過第一個離岸風力電廠興建案 | 環境資訊中心
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美國通過第一個離岸風力電廠興建案

2010年05月04日
摘譯自2010年4月28日ENS美國,波士頓報導;段譽豪編譯;蔡麗伶審校

美國內政部長沙拉薩(Ken Salazar)28日批准了風角電力公司(Cape Wind)在一處聯邦所有的海域,興建美國第一個離岸風力發電廠,地點位於麻州南塔克特灣(Nantucket Sound),面積25平方英哩。但開發商這個價值10億美元的風力電廠必須減少風力渦輪機的數量,以減少對視覺的衝擊,並且必須重新安排渦輪機位置,遠離南塔特克島。

「保留環境資源與南塔特克灣豐富文化遺產之間的需要必須保持平衡,我們必須重視可再生能源的發展,加強國家能源供應安全,在對抗氣候變遷之際創造就業機會,」沙拉薩說。「經過將近十年的詳盡研究與分析,我相信可以在計畫區內兼顧歷史與文化資源,並且負責任的進行開發。」

「這一決定開啟了我們國家未來能源的新方向,啟動了美國第一個離岸風力發電設施,並且為當地歷史開啟了新的一頁,」沙拉薩說。

回應風角公司努力了九年才得到許可這件事,他說,「第一步總是很困難,風角公司對自己所扮演角色感到自豪,它讓人們了解未來能源中的重要一環,並且幫助美國對這新興工業發展監理機制。」

本月初,風角與西門子能源公司簽訂了合約,購買130組風力渦輪,而不是原先計畫的170組。西門子宣佈該公司將會在波士頓設立美國離岸風力辦公室。

風力電廠位於馬蹄鐵淺灘(Horseshoe Shoals),遠離航道、貨輪航線與飛航路徑,毗鄰沿海對電力有需求的社區。

風角計畫預計最大發電量為468百萬瓦,平均發電量則為182百萬瓦。根據平均發電量預估,風角產生的電力可以提供麻州超過20萬戶家庭使用。整個計畫包含了66.5英哩長的海底輸電電纜系統、一個電力服務平台以及兩條115千伏的電力線以連接陸上電網。

這項計畫將提供數百個建築工作,並成為全美最大的溫室氣體減量設施,每年削減傳統電廠的二氧化碳排放量達70萬噸,沙拉薩說,等於17.5萬輛汽車在路上一年的排放量。

由於當地部落與民眾的關切,內政部長已要求風角公司,改變風力電廠的機組配置,並進行更多的海底調查,以確保任何水下考古資源在得到保護前不會進行海底工程。

麻州民主黨眾議員德拉杭特(Bill Delahunt)28日也發表聲明,反對設置風力電廠,「角風是第一個以錯誤方式建立在錯誤地點的風力電廠,並刺激了錯誤的經濟活動。」

離岸風力電廠具有很大的潛力,但我們錯過了在這裡把事情做對的機會。「超過25億美金的補貼將是全美最貴最多的,這將使該地區的電費至少增加一倍,」他說。

鳥類保育專家也對此決定感到不滿。弗萊博士(Michael Fry)是美國鳥類協會的保育宣傳主任,他說,「該計畫對鳥類撞擊威脅的科學數據收集是不夠的,而且風力電廠將會減少主要的離岸海鴨覓食棲地面積。」「此外,數據顯示潛水鳥類將會在未來幾年內離開當地,也可能對瀕危的紅燕鷗造成重大影響,紅燕鷗在附近的南特克灣覓食,並且在巴扎德灣(Buzzard's Bay)繁殖。」

不過民間團體「現在就要潔淨電力(Clean Power Now)」以及公民社會研究所(Civil Society Institute)卻對風角公司提案通過表示贊同,稱這是「有志民眾透過基層組織有效動員後所發生事件的一個真實的範例。」

一項委託公民社會研究所在2009年3月所做的民調顯示,86%的灣區居民以及74%峽角與島上居民都支持風角計畫。

公民社會研究所主席索羅(Pam Solo)說,「風角將帶來製造業與就業機會,以及真正的潔淨能源。這個決定開啟了美國新的離岸風力發電產業,對美國本地與國際層面來說,都是巨大的進展。這是偉大的成就,也是公民參與的勝利,因為這是潔淨的能源。」

該區的能源公司國家電網(National Grid)正與風角對購電協議進行談判中。

國家電網總裁金(Tom King)稱28日的決定是「歐巴馬政府大膽的一步」,他說,「沙拉薩部長為麻州、海灣區以及美國能源政策作出了歷史性的決定。各州與聯邦之間對可再生替代能源的目標,只能以開放的心態達成共識。

對那些覺得130組風力渦輪機會造成視覺衝擊的人,沙拉薩28日表示,當地也有許多其他的高聳建築物,包括廣播電塔、行動電話基地台、當地公共安全通訊塔以及各種供商業用的高塔。

瑪莎葡萄園(Martha's Vineyard,海島名)和南塔特克島與陸地之間已有三條海底電纜系統連結以取得電力,「南塔特克灣與相關的海岸線上視覺與生理的衝擊比比皆是,」沙拉薩說,「這不是個動不得的景點。」

Light Turns Green for America's First Offshore Wind Farm
BOSTON, Massachusetts, April 28, 2010 (ENS)

U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today approved Cape Wind, America's first offshore wind farm on 25-square-miles of federal submerged lands in Nantucket Sound off the Massachusetts coast. But the developer of the $1 billion wind farm must reduce the number of turbines to ease the visual impact and reconfigure the turbine array to move it farther from Nantucket Island.

"The need to preserve the environmental resources and rich cultural heritage of Nantucket Sound must be weighed in the balance with the importance of developing new renewable energy sources and strengthening our nation's energy security while battling climate change and creating jobs," Salazar said. "After almost a decade of exhaustive study and analyses, I believe that this undertaking can be developed responsibly and with consideration to the historic and cultural resources in the project area."

"With this decision we are beginning a new direction in our nation's energy future, ushering in America's first offshore wind energy facility and opening a new chapter in the history of this region," Salazar said.

Reflecting on the nine-year long permitting path for Cape Wind, he said, "Going first is never easy and Cape Wind is proud of the role we played in raising awareness for what will become a major component of our energy future and in helping the United States develop a regulatory framework for this new exciting industry."

Earlier this month, Cape Wind signed an agreement to buy 130 wind turbines for the project from Siemens Energy Inc., instead of the 170 turbines in the original project design. Siemens announced that it would open its U.S. offshore wind office in Boston.

The wind farm site on Horseshoe Shoals lies outside shipping channels, ferry routes and flight paths but is adjacent to power-consuming coastal communities.

The Cape Wind project is expected to generate a maximum electric output of 468 megawatts with an average anticipated output of 182 megawatts. At average expected production, Cape Wind could produce enough energy to power more than 200,000 homes in Massachusetts. The project includes a 66.5-mile buried submarine transmission cable system, an electric service platform and two 115-kilovolt lines connecting to the mainland power grid.

The project will create several hundred construction jobs and be one of the largest greenhouse gas reduction initiatives in the nation, cutting carbon dioxide emissions from conventional power plants by 700,000 tons annually said Salazar, the equivalent of removing 175,000 cars from the road for a year.

Because of tribal and community concerns, Interior has required Cape Wind to change the design and configuration of the wind farm and to conduct more seabed surveys to ensure that any submerged archaeological resources are protected before disturbing the seafloor.

Congressman Bill Delahunt, a Massachusetts Democrat, today also issued a statement in opposition to the wind farm, saying, "Cape Wind is the first offshore wind farm to be built in the wrong place, in the wrong way, stimulating the wrong economies."

Offshore wind energy has great potential, but we have missed an opportunity here to do it right. "This will be the most expensive and most heavily subsidized offshore wind farm in the country at over $2.5 billion, with power costs to the region that will be at least double," he said.

Bird conservationists are not happy with the decision. Dr. Michael Fry, director of Conservation Advocacy for American Bird Conservancy, said, "The science collected for the project on bird collision threats is inadequate, and the site will reduce prime offshore sea-duck foraging habitat," said Dr. Fry. "Further, there are data to suggest that loons will likely abandon the area for years to come, and there may be significant impacts to endangered roseate terns, which breed in nearby Buzzard's Bay and feed in Nantucket Sound."

But Citizens groups Clean Power Now and Civil Society Institute applauded the Cape Wind approval, saying it is "a real demonstration of what can happen when concerned citizens are mobilized through effective grassroots organization."

A March 2009 survey commissioned by the Civil Society Institute found that 86 percent of Bay State residents, and 74 percent of Cape and islands residents, support Cape Wind.

Pam Solo, president, Civil Society Institute, said, "Cape Wind will bring jobs and manufacturing, as well as genuinely clean energy. A new offshore wind industry in America is launched today with this decision, which is a huge boost for the U.S. on the regional and national levels. This is an enormous accomplishment and is as much a victory for citizen participation as it is for clean energy."

The regional energy utility National Grid is in negotiations for a power purchase agreement with Cape Wind.

National Grid President Tom King called today's decision "a bold step by the Obama administration," saying, "Secretary Salazar's decision marks an historic step forward for energy policy in the United States, our region and the state of Massachusetts. State and federal renewable goals can only be met with an open-minded attitude to energy alternatives."

To those who object to the visual impact of 130 wind turbines, Salazar pointed out today that a number of tall structures, including broadcast towers, cellular base station towers, local public safety communications towers and towers for industrial and business uses are located around the area.

Three submarine transmission cable systems already traverse the seabed to connect mainland energy sources to Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket Island. "Visual and physical impacts associated with Nantucket Sound and its associated shorelines abound," said Salazar, "it is not an untouched landscape."

 

作者

蔡麗伶(LiLing Barricman)

In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.