In this episode, we dive into the politics of the offshore wind industry in New Bedford, Massachusetts – practically in Miles’s own backyard. A town once known for its whaling industry is now becoming the poster child for renewable energy. Mayor Jon Mitchell has spearheaded the push for offshore wind, but he’s facing a variety of challenges on this front from the local fishing industry to the current US administration. This leads Miles to discuss how politics is so deeply embedded in science and technology that it is impossible to ignore how one influences the others. He also does some fact-checking on the myths that are perpetuated to discourage the offshore wind industry.
When it comes to production challenges, Miles describes the difficulties of reporting on a dynamic story like this one. With new rulings and decrees in regards to the wind industry, Miles had to tell this story in a way that would still be fresh when the episode aired.
In the television episode, we see Miles in action as a pilot, and here on the podcast, he tells us all about his and his family’s history in the sky and how that influences his reporting.
In closing, Elise asks what we can do to encourage offshore wind as a source of renewable energy, and Miles highlights the importance of researching candidates when election time comes around. As Miles puts it, solar and wind energy are “ready for prime time”.
