Wind is stronger and less turbulent offshore which enables wind turbines to generate more wind energy. In densely populated southeastern New England, an area with a high and growing demand for electricity, available land for wind development is limited and the greatest wind power development potential is offshore. While no offshore wind farm has yet been built in the United States, there have been successful offshore wind projects off the shores of European countries since 1991.

Based on the experience of European offshore wind farms, there are 3 characteristics of a site that are considered necessary:
1) Strong wind resource
2) Shallow depths
3) Relatively low ocean storm wave heights
Nantucket Sound may be the only offshore New England site that meets these criteria. Within Nantucket Sound, Horseshoe Shoal is superior to other possible sites because it is outside of shipping channels, ferry routes, and flight paths. Being located offshore Cape Cod and the Islands, Cape Wind would supply wind energy to the fastest growing electric demand region in New England and connecting into a robust electric infrastructure. The US Army Corps of Engineers evaluated 17 sites in New England for their Draft Environmental Impact Statement of Cape Wind, and they found Horseshoe Shoal to be technically, environmentally and economically preferable to the other sites.

No. Over time there will be technological improvements in wind turbines and in their foundations to allow for commercially feasible offshore wind projects to be in deeper water that experiences higher waves. Cape Wind will help provide the experience necessary to make the region ready to develop further offshore projects in the future. According to the Department of Energy, offshore wind potential in New England is vast and in the future it will be able to supply a substantial share of New England’s energy needs.