Vineyard Gets Voice Back

Martha's Vineyard residents will finally have a say when it comes to developing Vineyard waters. Legislators say that the final Ocean Management Plan will include language that allows local planning bodies like the Martha's Vineyard Commission to say how big and how many turbines can be set in nearby state waters.

"At the heart of the issue surrounding the draft ocean management plan, which was issued on June 30th, 2009, was the role of regional planning agencies with regulatory authority in permitting offshore renewable energy projects. "

The news comes after weeks of negotiations on Beacon Hill by Sen. O'Leary and Rep. Madden. According to the press release, leaving the Commission without a voice in the process of developing these local waters was "an oversight." Oops. While the decision could effect the scope of an offshore project slated for the waters off of Nomans, it will not have any effect on the Cape Wind project which, as everyone should know, is located in federal waters.

From the press release: “The Martha’s Vineyard Commission and the Cape Cod Commission were established to protect the unique characteristics of both areas and to foster sustainable practices to ensure the sensitive environmental, cultural and historical aspects of each place are maintained for generations to come,” said Senator O’Leary (D-Barnstable). “They have played their roles well, encouraging smart growth practices and limiting developments when in many cases the cons outweighed the pros. To overlook them, and not to explicitly recognize the jurisdiction the Commonwealth has previously afforded them, was an oversight and not in keeping with the intent of the Oceans Act. The Secretary understood that and the importance of the role they play in the community, and I think we were able to reach a good solid agreement for the Oceans Plan going forward.”
 
In addition to outlining the role of regional planning agencies with regulatory authority, 50 percent of the mitigation funds from projects in state waters that are subject to the state ocean plan will be under the control of the municipalities impacted.
 
“I would like to thank all the local officials on Martha’s Vineyard for their hard work during this process and all the citizens from the six towns who contacted us about their concerns and helped in reaching this compromise,” said Rep. Tim Madden (D-Nantucket). “This agreement best represents the Senator’s original intent in the legislation and I believe most comprehensively addresses the crux of the Islands’ concerns. I would also like to applaud the Secretary and his staff for being so responsive and listening to our constituents.”
 
The public comment period for the oceans draft plan is set to close on November 23, 2009 with the final plan from Secretary Bowles on December 31, 2009. After that date, the Oceans Act requires the oceans plan to be reviewed at least once every 5 years.