One clear threat to the integrity of some historic properties on Cape Cod and the Islands are the impacts of increasing shoreline erosion brought on by climate change. While one offshore wind farm will not, by itself, reverse a global climate phenomenon, the United Nations International Panel on Climate Change has made it clear that every region of the world must change how they make and use energy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate this challenge. For southeast Massachusetts, Cape Wind would represent a big step forward in mitigating climate change. Cape Wind would reduce regional greenhouse gasses by 770,000 tons per year, which Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and Environment Ian Bowles has likened to taking 175,000 cars off the road each year. Clean energy projects like Cape Wind need to happen around the world to help preserve the coastline of Cape Cod and its historic properties. [Return back]