Climate Change & Nantucket Part 3: Searching For Local Solutions To A Global Problem

JohnCarl McGrady wrote a blog entry on September 5, 2024.

The effects of climate change are already being felt on Nantucket Island. From dry spells to outbreaks of pine beetles, the evidence is clear. However, with such a large problem looming, what actions can this small island take to make a difference?

For certain people, it begins with understanding.

Emily Molden, the executive director of the Nantucket Land and Water Council, believes that having a community that is more informed and involved will benefit us in the future. She does not want community members to be unaware of what is happening around them.

"We often overlook the fact that in conservation, we also need to consider the management of people," mentioned Sarah Bois, who serves as the director of research and education at the Linda Loring Nature Foundation.

Bois partners with Jen Karberg, the Nantucket Conservation Foundation's director of research and partnerships, to instruct a coastal ecology course. He frequently speaks to classes of local island students about the impacts of climate change as well.

"We are attempting to connect with a wide range of people," she explained.

Many prominent projects are centered around coastal protection, but there are also numerous other initiatives happening. Local conservation organizations are actively combating invasive species that thrive in warmer climates, while also working to enhance delicate ecosystems like wetlands and sandplain grasslands. Some groups are advocating for revisions to local laws and regulations to aid in Nantucket's adaptation efforts. For example, the Conservation Commission recently modified wetland regulations to mandate that pools be constructed in a way that prevents interaction with floodwaters, thus preventing the mixing of pool chemicals with the ocean.

The changes are stirring up debate. They take away some of the rights of property owners and limit how they can use their land. Some view it as too much government control, while others see it as a crucial step towards being ready for the future.

"It all comes down to deciding whether to focus on immediate or future goals as a community and planning ahead for potential challenges that could arise in the next ten or twenty years," Molden explained. "Our island community will definitely be confronted with tough decisions ahead."

Sometimes, even when changes are put in place, like the ones suggested by the Conservation Commission or the recent ban on single-use plastics, it can be really hard to make sure people follow them.

"Keeping order in the town is one of our biggest difficulties," Molden acknowledged.

Almost all the people asked for their opinion in this article were in agreement.

In addition to regulations, the town has also been working on other projects. Just last year, Nantucket introduced their first municipal solar project with 232 solar panels installed at the Surfside sewer plant. This project is expected to offset around 106 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions produced locally each year.

However, solar power is unable to compete with the amount of energy produced by offshore wind turbines.

The Vineyard Wind project will generate over 800 megawatts of power, which is significantly more than the Surfside sewer plant solar project. There are 62 wind turbines located 15 miles southwest of the island that make up the wind farm. This project is expected to decrease carbon emissions by more than 1.6 million tons per year. It is the first of several offshore wind farms planned for the waters near Nantucket as part of Massachusetts' and the Biden administration's efforts to combat climate change.

That is, assuming it ever becomes fully functional.

Following a blade issue with one of Vineyard Wind's turbines on July 13 that caused debris to wash up on Nantucket's beaches, the federal government has halted the project. The future of the project delivering the expected amount of energy is now uncertain. The detachment of the blade and the health hazards it may present to the island community, as well as the economic consequences of beach closures and threats to marine life, have revived the ongoing resistance to offshore wind on the island.

Since the project is situated in federal waters, the Nantucket authorities do not have the authority to give permission or deny Vineyard Wind, except for a small portion of the undersea cable that passes through island waters and was approved by the Conservation Commission. Despite this limitation, island residents have been expressing their opinions loudly in the past few weeks following the blade failure.

The community organization ACK For Whales believes that the use of sonar mapping and pile-driving in various projects, as well as the presence of numerous vessels supporting offshore wind farms such as Vineyard Wind, will harm endangered right whales. They argue that the negative impact on these whales cannot be justified by the benefits of clean energy. While some lawsuits funded by the organization against Vineyard Wind have been rejected, this has not deterred their protest. ACK For Whales is determined to escalate the case to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Several people who support using more renewable energy sources are being told there is no concrete evidence to back up their claims. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has said multiple times that there is no proven connection between offshore wind farms and whale deaths. However, the recent incident involving Vineyard Wind has led to increased opposition to offshore wind projects on the island. Many are now questioning the safety of the turbines themselves, especially considering the large number - over 1,400 turbines - planned for the waters southwest of Nantucket. Instances of offshore wind turbine blades detaching have occurred before, leading locals to believe it will happen again. What was once seen as an eco-friendly solution to combat climate change is now viewed by many on Nantucket as a potential environmental disaster.

However, even with an increase in renewable energy sources, Nantucket will still be vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Local initiatives may be successful, but they are not a solution to the larger worldwide issue.

"We need to be prepared," Molden stated.