Offshore Wind Wire

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled yesterday the state was allowed to overrule community opposition when it granted a “super permit” to the Cape Wind offshore wind project in 2009, the Boston Globe reported.

According to the Globe, if the court decision had gone the other way “the project would probably have been delayed indefinitely or killed outright because several permits would have had to come from a community and a regional agency that oppose the project.”

Cape Wind is still waiting for the Department of Public Utilities to make a decision about the power purchase agreement that the project signed with National Grid.

The court’s decision cannot be appealed but opposition Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound vowed to continue its broader fight against the proposed 130-turbine wind farm, the Associated Press reported.

“This is far from over, despite this ruling,” said Audra Parker, the group’s director.

Fishermen’s Energy Plans To Launch Turbines From Camden

New Jersey-based Fishermen’s Energy plans to bring offshore wind turbines from Camden, NJ, through the Delaware Bay and then up the coast to the company’s first project off Atlantic City, the Press of Atlantic City reported yesterday.

The six-turbine project — which is planned for state waters — could begin construction next year, the paper reported.

MA Working on Offshore Wind Pact Gosnold

State officials and representatives from the sparsely populated island of Cuttyhunk are drafting a Memorandum of Understanding to guide development of the first offshore wind development in Massachusetts waters, the Martha’s Vineyard Gazette reported.

After the state’s ocean management plan identified an area near Cuttyhunk last year for offshore wind development, local leaders said they would be willing to host a wind farm.  Officials from the island’s only town — Gosnold — are gathering feedback from residents but will not share any information on the process until the MOU is complete, according to the Gazette.