Offshore Wind Wire

By Peter Brennan

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar gave his official approval to Cape Wind today, clearing the way for the nation’s first wind farm to be built on federal submerged lands in Nantucket Sound.

During a noon press conference with Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick at the Massachusetts State House, Salazar approved the Cape Wind project, conditioned upon the developer agreeing to minimize some potential adverse impacts of the construction and operation of the wind farm.

“After careful consideration of all the concerns expressed during the lengthy review and consultation process and thorough analyses of the many factors involved, I find that the public benefits weigh in favor of approving the Cape Wind project at the Horseshoe Shoal location,” Salazar said. “With this decision we are beginning a new direction in our nation’s energy future, ushering in America’s first offshore wind energy facility and opening a new chapter in the history of this region.”

The Cape Wind project will be the first offshore wind farm in the United States, and could create up to 1,000 construction jobs, according to the Interior Department press office.  The project also has the potential to cut carbon dioxide emissions from conventional power plants by 700,000 tons annually, the press office said.

Salazar made note of the long journey that the Cape Wind project has taken, and gave assurances that the permitting process for future projects would not take ten years to complete.

“There is no reason why an offshore wind project should take a decade to review and approve. Future projects will face a quicker, more streamlined process,” Salazar said. “This will be the first of many projects up and down the Atlantic coast.”

To mitigate the impact on the view from Cape Cod shores and specifically the Kennedy Compound Historic Landmark, Salazar said that he will require the developer to change the design and configuration of the wind turbine farm.  Salazar also said he would require the project to be reduced from 170 turbines to 130 turbines, although Cape Wind officials have long said that they planned to build a 130-turbine wind farm.  The company will also have to conduct additional seabed surveys to ensure that any submerged archaeological resources are protected prior to bottom disturbing activities.

The final hurdle to the project was posed by local tribes, which claimed the wind farm would infringe on their cultural and religious beliefs.  Salazar said he understood and respected the views of the Aquinnah and Mashpee Wampanoag Tribes and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, but noted that as Secretary of the Interior, he must balance broad, national public interest priorities in his decisions.

“The need to preserve the environmental resources and rich cultural heritage of Nantucket Sound must be weighed in the balance with the importance of developing new renewable energy sources and strengthening our Nation’s energy security while battling climate change and creating jobs,” Salazar said.

Governor Patrick, who has supported Cape Wind since his 2006 gubernatorial campaign, embraced the Interior’s decision.

“America needs offshore wind power, and with this project Massachusetts will lead the nation.” said Patrick.  “If we get clean energy right then the whole world will be our customer.”

Cape Wind President Tom Gordon said that he expects to begin construction before the end of 2010, which would allow the company to take advantage of federal incentives.

“Secretary Salazar’s decision today to approve Cape Wind has launched the American offshore wind industry.  It allows our nation to harness an abundant and inexhaustible clean energy source for greater energy independence, a healthier environment and green jobs,” Gordon said.  “We also appreciate Governor Deval Patrick’s support, vision and leadership to make Massachusetts a global leader in offshore renewables and the clean energy economy.”