January 11, 2018 | Cape Wind

It Took a Sharp Mind to Defeat Cape Wind

Cape Cod Times: “It took sharp mind to defeat Cape Wind”
Letter to the Editor, January 11, 2018 –

I was struck by something in the contrasting front page stories on Audra Parker and Jim Gordon and the battle over Cape Wind. While the paper delved into the educational background and business details of Gordon’s life, the story on Parker focused heavily on her personal background while largely ignoring her academic and business credentials.

As someone who has known Audra personally for years, let me set the record straight: Audra holds an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management and a bachelor of science in applied mathematics and economics from Brown University. She spent years in the private sector in jobs that included executive management, strategy, and marketing in New York, Boston, Paris and Seattle. Among her past employers: Microsoft, Bull Information Systems, and MapInfo.

Why does this matter? Because defeating Cape Wind took a sharp mind with strong business experience, and that was what Audra brought to the fight and that needs to be credited.

More importantly, even though Cape Wind is dead, Nantucket Sound is still unprotected. The fight to protect the Sound from any future development is going to continue, and people need to know they have someone at the helm who is more than equipped to do the job.

Jamie Regan
Mashpee

Read more //www.capecodtimes.com/opinion/20180111/it-took-sharp-mindto-defeat-cape-wind

Published via Cape Cod Times, which is not affiliated with the Alliance.

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Q&A with Audra Parker, President & CEO

Looking back over the past 17 years, we should all feel a strong sense of accomplishment. Together, we defeated Cape Wind and have made great strides in our mission to permanently protect Nantucket Sound. But, we need your continued support to leave a lasting legacy for our children and grandchildren. I encourage you to contribute to our preservation campaign. Nantucket Sound won’t stay a national treasure without your support.

Why is Nantucket Sound a national treasure? The Sound has a rich tribal and maritime history and has long been recognized as more than just a body of water. It is the heart and soul of the Cape and Islands. It is a significant marine habitat for a diversity of ecologically and economically important species. It provides a livelihood for local fishermen, an inspiration for artists, and is a source of solace, relaxation, and recreation for the millions that flock to its shores. Nantucket Sound connects all of us who live and visit here.

Why is Nantucket Sound still vulnerable to industrialization? While the state waters of the Sound are protected under Massachusetts law, the federal waters in the center remain open to industrial development.

How can we permanently protect Nantucket Sound? The best way to secure permanent protection for the Sound is through federal legislation. The Alliance has proposed the ‘Nantucket Sound National Historic Landmark Act’ which would recognize the Sound’s historic, environmental and economic values. It would also prevent future development by prohibiting industrial projects in the Sound.

What have we achieved since the defeat of Cape Wind? We made solid progress toward enacting this federal legislation. We worked closely with our federal delegation and built a strong and diverse coalition of support. We earned endorsements from Governor Baker, our local representatives and nearly 100 key stakeholder groups. This coalition of elected officials, environmental groups, municipalities, tribal governments, historic preservation groups, commercial fishermen, and many others, is urging our representatives in Washington, D.C. to enact the Nantucket Sound National Historic Landmark Act.

Why does the Alliance still need funding? The Alliance is the only group that is fighting to protect Nantucket Sound. As a non-profit, we rely solely on private donations. Thank you for your continued generosity as we work to Save Our Sound… FOREVER. Your tax-deductible donation today will leave a legacy for tomorrow.

Audra Parker
President and CEO