Read the other candidates’ statements: Charlie Baker, Treasurer Tim Cahill, Dr. Jill Stein.

I have from the outset acknowledged that there are thoughtful views on both sides of the Cape Wind question. On balance, I am in favor of Cape Wind and strongly so. I think it’s good for us from an environmental point of view, from an energy point of view, from an economic point of view, and from a symbolic point of view.

I think it’s good for us from an environmental point of view because it’s emissions-free generation of power and we need to get serious about climate change; and not just talking about it and wringing our hands about it, but taking some steps that are tangible to address that.

I think it’s good from an energy point of view because offshore wind, wave, and tidal are our biggest opportunities for locally generated, clean energy and we need to start wisely exploiting them and in the case of price, the negotiated contract, if I understand it, will add about a buck and a quarter to our monthly rate-payer bills. That compares to twenty dollars more a month just a year or eighteen months ago when we were and would be more subject to global natural gas markets.

I think it’s good economically because of the six hundred to a thousand jobs that would be generated in this project alone. I think we get first mover advantage by having the very first offshore wind farm in America. We’ve already seen Siemens move their wind energy facilities to an office here in Boston. A wind blade testing facility is under construction now in Charlestown and we look for reliability in rates through long-term power contracts and I think it’s an important symbol for us to be a leader among the eastern seaboard states that would really die to be where we are right now this far along on serious project of this kind and to be a hub for brand-new, American-based industry.

So for all those reasons, on balance, I think Cape Wind is good for us.

Governor Deval Patrick is the Democratic candidate for governor.