The first US offshore wind farm in Nantucket Sound secured consent from the Obama administration on Wednesday after a 9 year battle.
The Cape Cod wind farm will consist of 130 wind turbines with a total installed capacity of 420 Megawatts (MW).
The decision comes after 9 years of information requests and legislative tussels between the developer – Cape Wind Associates, wind energy supporters and vociferous opposers.
Executive Director of grassroots support group Clean Power Now said:
“We applaud Secretary Salazar for his vision and leadership in making this landmark decision and look forward to the day when the wind farm in Nantucket Sound will be producing the majority of the electrical needs of the Cape and islands establishing our region as a national model of sustainability and a clean energy future.”
Clean Power Now and the Developer Cape Wind Associates are urging opponents not to progress further lawsuits and other stalling tactics. They say that this will only delay the inevitable and cost taxpayers millions of dollars.
Clean Power Now secured 800 signatures in a letter of support to Ken Salazar whilst Greenpeace collected 16,000 support letters.
