Avoiding Blackout: 2005 Windscape Competition- An Ideas Competition Envisioning Renewable Energy on Cape Cod, Boston Society of Architects

Avoiding Blackout proposes a distributed renewable energy network for the Cape as an alternative to the existing Cape Wind energy proposal for the construction of wind turbines in Nantucket Sound. Although the existing Cape Wind proposal is laudable in its creation of a visually stunning presence on Nantucket Sound with the production of much-needed renewable energy, there is a problem with the projects proposal; it continues to rely on the concept of centralized power. Severe vulnerability currently exists in the US electric grid system due to its highly centralized nature as witnessed in the 2003 power blackout on the East Coast & Midwest . In addition, terrorist attacks and increased severe weather damage on centralized facilities and transmission lines have the potential to devastate the economy and cause extensive damage to life and property. Residents on Cape Cod know the results of grid susceptibility; power-outages on Cape Cod are currently frequent, especially with the intensity of costal storms in the area.

Avoiding Blackout proposes an alternative decentralized solution. Each home, municipality, and business supplies their own energy needs in a clean renewable way. Small-scale solar PV arrays and small and medium scale wind turbines are built first by municipal entities, and then soon after by home and business owners. All areas of the Cape currently either have access to wind currents above class 4 or strong sun availability to adequately power turbines and PV arrays. By constructing this decentralized network, awareness of the balance between production, consumption and environmental sensitivity can be given to each resident, business owner, and visitor to the Cape.

In addition to decentralized electric, Avoiding Blackout also proposes a Cape-wide energy conservation program to maximize user efficiency. The conservation program would start with the simple replacement of standard light bulbs with Energy Star rated CLF bulbs in every structure. Over time, additional conservation projects would be initiated by creating regulations on the municipal level requiring green building techniques on each and every property.