There are seventeen Federal and State agencies reviewing Cape Wind. The US Minerals Management Service is the lead Federal agency conducting a National Environmental Policy Act review. In Massachusetts, the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs is conducting a Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act review.

The wind turbines on Horseshoe Shoal will be in Federal waters and portions of the underground electric cables will be in Massachusetts.

This clean, renewable energy project is undergoing a more comprehensive and rigorous permitting review than any of New England’s fossil fueled power plants.

In February, 2007 Cape Wind filed its Draft Environmental Impact Report with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Previously, in November, 2004 the Corps of Engineers issued a 3,800 page Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) on Cape Wind that found substantial benefits and few impacts of the project. An open public comment period ran until February 24, 2005 and about 5,000 written comments were submitted and four public hearings occurred. The next stage in the process will be the Final Environmental Impact Statement. In May, 2005, the Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Board issued a permit for Cape Wind to interconnect its electric cables with the electric transmission system in Massachusetts. Other Massachusetts agencies are awaiting the preparation and completion of the Final Environmental Impact Review to complete their reviews (more on the DEIS).

Cape Wind has received support from major labor, environmental, public interest, health and business organizations and from thousands of citizens. To see a list of Cape Wind supporters, click here.