About Us

Our Mission

The Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit environmental organization dedicated to the permanent preservation of Nantucket Sound, the historic body of water that lies between Cape Cod and the islands of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.

The Alliance was formed in 2002 in response to Cape Wind’s proposal to build a 25-square-mile wind energy project in the Sound. Although we support responsibly sited renewable energy development and the use of coastal marine planning to identify appropriate sites for development, the Alliance and its 20,000+ supporters oppose industrialization of Nantucket Sound due to conflicts inherent at that location. Our supporters include environmentalists, chambers of commerce, fishermen, Native American tribes, ferry operators, airport commissions, business trade groups, municipalities, homeowners, and others.

Now that Cape Wind has been stopped, the goal of the Alliance is to establish the Sound as a protected area to preserve its rich ecology and existing uses while safeguarding against future inappropriate development. Our message is that the federal waters in Nantucket Sound are still vulnerable and must be protected from future industrial development.

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Q&A with Audra Parker, President & CEO, March 2019

I am frequently congratulated by our supporters on the defeat of Cape Wind. While I share their sense of accomplishment and relief, I remind people whenever I can that Nantucket Sound remains vulnerable to development. These discussions have led to many good questions, which I hope to answer here.

Didn’t we defeat Cape Wind? Yes, thanks to the persistence of the Alliance team, the dedication of our stakeholders, and the generosity of our donors, Cape Wind finally surrendered their lease in late 2017.

Hasn’t the Alliance achieved its mission? Not yet. While the state waters of the Sound are protected under Massachusetts law, the federal waters in the center remain open to development. Unless we can secure permanent protection for the Sound, we could face a future of industrial activity, especially as ocean-based technology continues to develop. The establishment of the Cape Cod National Seashore in the 1960s safeguarded this exceptional place from a future of parking lots, hotels, and other development. Now, we must do the same to ensure that Nantucket Sound remains the national treasure it is today.

Why does the Alliance still need funding? The Alliance is the only group that is fighting to protect Nantucket Sound, and as a non-profit, we rely solely on private donations. We need resources for lobbying, staff, and legal counsel in order to enact federal legislation which would designate the Sound as a National Historic Landmark to recognize its historic, environmental, and economic values, and prevent future development by prohibiting the federal government from authorizing industrial projects in the Sound. The best way to ensure the Sound retains its unique environment and pristine nature is through this federal legislation.

Nantucket Sound won’t stay a national treasure without your support. We urgently need your help to protect this special body of water that belongs to each and every one of us. Please contribute to our preservation campaign today. Your tax-deductible donation will help us leave a legacy for generations to come.

Audra Parker
President and CEO