WIND AT SEA

Offshore wind could be next wave for United States
Scott Malone (w/Alan Elsner), July 28, 2009 (Reuters)

"The Cape Cod resort area, famous for sandy beaches and centuries-old fishing villages, could in the next few years claim a new title of home to the United States' first offshore wind farm.

"The United States has experienced a surge in investment in wind power over the past four years, more than tripling its ability to turn wind into electricity. But construction has been entirely on land and largely in America's rural midsection -- leaving open the costly challenge of how to transmit power to the densely populated coasts where it is most needed."

Cape Wind has been held up since 2001 because of this desecration of the seaside vista. (click to enlarge)

"That could be changing. Developers have proposed wind farms off Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Delaware and New Jersey to meet the electricity needs of the East Coast…The Cape Wind project in 2001 became the country's first major proposed offshore wind farm. Its developers aim to construct 130 towers, which will tower 440 feet (134 metres) above the surface of the Nantucket Sound.

"To supporters, Cape Wind represents Massachusetts' chance to be a leader in clean energy. It would generate 420 megawatts of power, enough for 336,000 typical American homes…Opponents, including Democratic Senator Edward Kennedy, who has a home on the Cape, say the towers, 5 miles (8 km) from shore, would be a risk to navigation and hurt tourism."

click to enlarge

"Cape Wind's developers need one last major regulatory approval, from the U.S. Department of the Interior. Should they get it, they expect to have the project up and running in two years, which will require finding more than $1 billion…Jim Gordon, Cape Wind chief executive, said he believes investors will come through…

"Momentum is on wind's side. Last year developers invested more than $17 billion in new U.S. wind farms… But onshore wind must deal with the cost and complexity of building transmission lines from Texas, Minnesota and other leading wind producing states to demand centers…Deepwater Wind, which is working on $1.5 billion of projects off Rhode Island…backed by hedge fund DE Shaw and wind developer First Wind, plans its turbines 15 miles (24.14 km) offshore, which would make them practically invisible from the coast…Other developers are planning wind farms in the Gulf of Mexico off Texas and in the inland Great Lakes…"