Offshore Wind Wire

MORNING ROUNDUP: MA Energy Chief Predicts PPA Will Survive Legal Challenge

Massachusetts Energy and Environment Secretary Ian Bowles said yesterday that the power purchase agreement between Cape Wind and National Grid would withstand a legal challenge from renewable energy producer TransCanada, the Boston Herald reported. In a filing on the Cape Wind PPA case, the company complained that the bidding process favors in-state producers.  TransCanada filed a [...]

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Salazar Approves Cape Wind!

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, [...]

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MA Official Cautions Cape Wind, National Grid on Purchase Price

By Peter Brennan Offshore wind developer Cape Wind and electricity distributor and generator National Grid received a stern warning last week from Massachusetts’ top energy official regarding the power purchase agreement being negotiated by the two entities. In a Feb. 17, letter addressed to Cape Wind President Jim Gordon and Thomas King, head of Electricity Distribution and [...]

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Final Massachusetts Ocean Management Plan Debuts Monday

Massachusetts will publicly release the final draft of the highly anticipated Ocean Management Plan early next week, according to state officials. The Plan, touted by officials as the first of its kind in the nation, will zone state waters for large-scale offshore wind development. The Massachusetts Oceans Act required Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Ian [...]

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Environmental Watchdog Cries Foul Over Massachusetts Ocean Plan Concessions

A leading environmental law group said last month that Massachusetts officials exceeded their legal authority when they delegated offshore wind regulation to regional planning agencies. In a Nov. 23 letter to Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Ian Bowles, the Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) outlined what it claims are inconsistencies between the Massachusetts Draft Ocean Management Plan [...]

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