[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/EW-03-27-13-Offshore-Wind.mp3|titles=EW 03-27-13 Offshore Wind]
The planned wind farm in Nantucket Sound known as Cape Wind was the first offshore wind energy project proposed in the United States, back in 2001. Since that time, the project has been through a bewildering permitting, approval, and assessment process involving multiple federal and state agencies. It has also been the subject of numerous lawsuits.
Cape Wind has received federal approval from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and has power purchase agreements in place from local utilities. It has cleared a host of environmental and other regulatory hurdles. Nevertheless, after 12 years, it is still not clear when construction will actually begin.
Cape Wind has been the subject of vociferous opposition, notably from a number of prominent Cape Cod citizens who see the project as highly detrimental to the scenic beauty of Nantucket Sound. Over time, virtually every conceivable downside to the project has been argued as a justification for not going forward.
Offshore wind technology has its drawbacks, particularly with regard to cost, but the higher and steadier winds available offshore make it an attractive energy source. As a result, additional U.S. projects are now working their way through the approval process.
Offshore wind may be mired in regulations and controversy in the United States, but elsewhere it is a different story. There are currently nearly 1,700 wind turbines in operation at 55 offshore wind farms. Most of these are in Europe, particularly in Great Britain and Denmark.
It may not yet exist here, but the technology works and it is getting cheaper and better all the time.
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Web Links
For a detailed discussion of the status of Cape Wind, please visit:
Photo, taken on June 15, 2009, courtesy of Anne Hornyak via Flickr.
Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio. Support for Earth Wise comes from the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, NY, with partial support from the Field Day Foundation.