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Cape Cod project is crucial step for US wind industry
More than 800 giant wind turbines spin off the coasts of Denmark, Britain and seven other European countries, generating enough electricity from strong ocean breezes to power hundreds of thousands of homes. China's first offshore wind farm, a 102-megawatt venture near Shanghai, goes online this month, with more in the pipeline.
But despite a decade of efforts, not a single offshore turbine has been built in the United States.
Experts say progress has been slowed by a variety of factors, including poor economics, an uncertain regulatory framework and local opposition.
When the Obama administration announces a decision this week on the most prominent project–Cape Wind, off the coast of Massachusetts–it could have implications from Long Island to Lake Erie. An approval from Interior Secretary Ken Salazar might well nudge the project to completion as the nation's first offshore wind farm. On the other hand, some developers say a thumbs-down could gut America's offshore wind industry before it ever really gets started.