Wave Maker

The same day that the Boston Herald's gossip columnists were touting the new book slamming the anti-Cape Wind folks, Govenor Patrick was engaged in a wide ranging interview with the editorial board of the Cae Cod Times. During that interview, he made what I would have thought to be a significant statement. Leading the Cape Cod Times' May 26th story following the meeting was the following:

HYANNIS — Gov. Deval Patrick's administration is exploring sites for offshore wind turbines beyond Cape Wind's, a move the governor hopes will make Massachusetts a leader in renewable energy.

During a wide-ranging interview with the Cape Cod Times editorial board, Patrick said the state is one of the best places for deep-water wind turbines and his administration wants to exploit that advantage.

The state may locate and permit sites before a developer comes in with a plan, Patrick said. New Jersey, Rhode Island and Delaware are doing similar pre-permitting.

The CCT article was picked up by the AP, and the Boston Herald ran it on Friday as well.

The Boston Globe, however, ran nothing Friday and only a bit piece on it in the Saturday New England in Brief section.

There's a standard in the news making and reporting business. News makers release bad news on Fridays, preferably of a major holiday weekend. Media outlets that do not want stories read publish them on Saturdays.

It would seem to me that Patrick's statement is a significant public policy announcement that goes well beyond his previous remarks in general support of alternative energy including wind, and his support for the Cape Wind project specifically. Now he is saying that he would invite other private sector wind energy developers to build more windmills off the coast of Massachusetts.

Why would Patrick choose to make this statement to the Cape Cod Times on the Thursday before one of the biggest holidays of the year?

Why would the Boston Globe all but ignore the story entirely? It opposes Cape Wind, but was trumpeting a competing proposal intended for the treacherous waters of Buzzards Bay.