Obama administration approves nation's first offshore wind farm

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

In a groundbreaking decision that some say will usher in a new era of clean energy, U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar approved the nation's first offshore wind farm today off Cape Cod, a person briefed on the decision said this morning.

...

The decision has been delayed for almost a year because of two Wampanoag tribes’ complaints that the turbines, which would stand more than 400 feet above the ocean surface, would disturb spiritual sun greetings and possibly ancestral artifacts and burial grounds on the seabed, which was once exposed land before the sea level rose thousands of years ago.

Supporters have long said an approval would be a giant step forward for renewable energy efforts in the country, while opponents have said they would seek to kill the project through legal action. The project, if it is not held up by lawsuits, could begin construction within the year.

The project has undergone years of environmental review and political maneuvering, including opposition from the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy, whose home overlooks Nantucket Sound.

...

Horseshoe Shoals, the part of Nantucket Sound where the wind farm is proposed, is widely considered the best place along the East Coast to build a wind farm. That's in part because the site is in shallow, sheltered waters close to shore -- the nearest beach is five miles away. But it is also because it is in federal waters: Political will to build such a massive wind farm in state waters three miles from shore does not exist.

Cape Wind Associates said the wind farm could produce enough wind power to handle three-quarters of the electric needs of the Cape and Islands. The price of its electricity is expected to be higher than conventional power. The company is still in negotiations with National Grid, the utility, that has agreed to purchase some of the power the farm produces.

http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/green/greenblog/2010/04/cape_wind_decision_expected_to.html

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Wow! The Kennedy legacy slips into oblivion!

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Wow! The Kennedy legacy slips into oblivion!

In this case, not such a bad thing.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

The decision has been delayed for almost a year because of two Wampanoag tribes’ complaints that the turbines, which would stand more than 400 feet above the ocean surface, would disturb spiritual sun greetings and possibly ancestral artifacts and burial grounds on the seabed, which was once exposed land before the sea level rose thousands of years ago.

Seam level rise.... BEFORE the SUV? OMGWTFBBQ

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Seam level rise.... BEFORE the SUV? OMGWTFBBQ

shhhh, don't tell the enviro-whackos...

Lovely cape cod area now with an eyesore off shore. :/

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Think of all the shredded seabirds! Oh, the horror! ...the horror!

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

This is the story of America these days - we're just always lagging behind. Leadership on energy future lost w/o even putting up a fight. Just this week, the first such offshore windfarm - merely approved to be built now by the US administration - actually went online in Germany. Quite impressive considering it's the smallest of the offshore farms already in the pipeline to be built in Europe and yet, it will produce 220 GWH of energy/ year - enough power to supply 50,000 households.

Germany's First Offshore Wind Farm Goes Online

According to an analysis adopted under his aegis, wind turbines in the North Sea and Baltic Sea are expected to produce more than 140 terawatt hours of electricity by 2050. That amount alone would cover about 25 percent of projected power-consumption needs.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

I wonder how well those will tolerate a major storm, or a drunken sailor.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

I wonder how well those will tolerate a major storm, or a drunken sailor.

They will have a much better chance now that Ted kennedy (PBUH) has moved on to a 'better place'.

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

This is the story of America these days - we're just always lagging behind. Leadership on energy future lost w/o even putting up a fight. Just this week, the first such offshore windfarm - merely approved to be built now by the US administration - actually went online in Germany. Quite impressive considering it's the smallest of the offshore farms already in the pipeline to be built in Europe and yet, it will produce 220 GWH of energy/ year - enough power to supply 50,000 households.

None of the turbines in the pic are producing shite! they arent turning.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

None of the turbines in the pic are producing shite! they arent turning.

"..., but sometimes the wind don't blow, the sun don't shine, and the grass don't grow..."

--Little Big Man

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

None of the turbines in the pic are producing shite! they arent turning.

Well yeah... it's a photograph...

I'm surprised at you Marc. I can accept that you may not have photographs in your home, but I'm sure you have a fair few cave paintings

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

Well yeah... it's a photograph...

I'm surprised at you Marc. I can accept that you may not have photographs in your home, but I'm sure you have a fair few cave paintings

Uh der dipstick look at the fvckin water! To many meds again?

Edited April 28, 2010 by Col. Lingus

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Uh der dipstick look at the fvckin water! To many meds again?

What's your point?

It is a "wind" farm, it relies on... (drum roll) Wind!

[Niels Bohr 72]

US NEWS reported that Wind Turbines in the US currently produce about 8,568 MW enough for 2 million people. Supposedly, the US is in a race to get the US to increase Wind energy for our electrical needs to 20% usage compared to coal and all other means of electricity generation. This will require a steady increase on building these farms.

As of now, the rate is rapidly increasing above expectations.

This report was before the approval of the Cape Wind Farm. Now, with the Cape Wind farm in place, it'll be very good.

This is only a piece to reduce the amount of waste that goes into the environment.