The federal government on Friday released a favorable Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the proposed Cape Wind project off the shores of Massachusetts, following seven years of environmental review and public hearings.
The report issued by the Minerals Management Service (MMS) found that the proposed offshore wind farm poses no major environmental problems–rejecting arguments that wind turbines could kill birds and endager sea life, while also disrupting the scenic area’s tourism and fishing industries.
Opposition to the wind farm came from many of Cape Cod’s well-known and wealthy residents, including Senator Edward Kennedy.
As planned the Cape Wind project would included 130 wind turbines, capable of providing power for 400,000 homes at a cost of roughly $1 billion.
The final environmental review will be open for public comment for 30 days, after which final approvall can be issued under the new presidential administration for the project.
The project developer said construction could begin early next year, aiming for completion in 2011 or 2012.
“Massachusetts is one major step closer to becoming home to America’s
first offshore wind farm and becoming a global leader in the production
of offshore renewable energy,” Jim Gordon, the project’s developer, said.
In Related News…
A new study released by Energy Watch Group forecasts continued growth for the wind industry after the year 2015, contradicting a prediction of downturn made by the International Energy Agency (IEA). The report claims that growth of wind power additions after 2015 will be driven
not just by costs for fossil fuels and nuclear cost overruns–but by access to new wind
resources, by new grid regulations, by an emerging world market for wind turbines and
components and by ever cheaper and better wind technology.
Link to the report at the site below.
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