The Town of Barnstable has received notice that Avangrid Renewables intends to begin onshore construction at Craigville Beach as part of the New England Wind 1 offshore wind farm project in Fall 2026. This leaves the New England Wind 2 project on the table, with a proposed landing of three 400 megawatt high voltage offshore wind cables at Dowses Beach. Save Greater Dowses Beach (SGDB) continues, therefore, to oppose both projects. Our many concerns are for the health and safety of beachgoers, degradation of the environment as a result of construction and operations, harm to wildlife, damage to the COMM drinking water delivery system due to thermal radiation from the transmission lines, and the possible contamination of Cape Cod’s sole source aquifer by a catastrophic failure of the projects’ substations. SGDB is encouraged by federal policy that disfavors offshore wind; we have focused our advocacy, via a paid lobbyist, on the Departments of the Interior, Energy, and Health and Human Services. Additionally, we continue to pursue a lawsuit asking a Superior Court judge to revoke the permit allowing cable construction at Craigville Beach. Notably, the Barnstable Town Council has declared its opposition to the use of Dowses for cable landings and has protected “Baby Beach,” at the end of Wianno Avenue, under Article 97 of the Massachusetts constitution. SGDB is a dedicated, all-volunteer group funded by the generous donations of concerned citizens.
We can be reached at:
SAVE GREATER DOWSES BEACH
P.O. Box 1068
Osterville, MA 02655
and
saveourbeach22@gmail.com