Government Gives Regulatory Approval to Offshore Wind Farm
The federal government gave approval to the nation's first offshore wind farm last Wednesday, April 28 after nine years of regulatory review, The New York Times reported.
The farm will be located off the coast of Cape Cod – about five miles from the nearest shoreline – and will feature 130 turbines. The area of the farm will cover 24 square miles, about the size of Manhattan.
Several regulatory hurdles remain, however, The Times said, and opponents of the farm have vowed to go to court, potentially stalling the project for several more years.
Supporters say the $1 billion project would provide a clean, renewable energy source that could meet up to 75 percent of the power needs of Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket.
Opponents say the project would change the region's historic character and decrease its beauty. They also say costs to consumers could double or triple that of conventional power.
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