...In Massachusetts, the Cape Wind project that would bring a wind farm to Nantucket Sound stalled for nine years before it was finally approved in 2010. It recently cleared a hurdle when a court upheld a contract with National Grid for purchase of half its electricity. That should make it easier to sell more power and raise money to build the project, said Mark Rodgers, a spokesman for the company.
Note:

Click here to read this New York Times article

Click here to view an interview of Cape Wind President Jim Gordon by VB at Fox 25 Boston -- Gordon explains how the SJC decision to uphold the approval of the Cape Wind contract with National Grid helps propel the project forward.

Opposition group to Cape Wind, 'Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound' 2010 financials just released, they ended the year $1.35 Million in debt, they had one of their lowest fundraising tallies on record, 67% coming from just 7 large donors. Their 2009 financials listed coal and oil magnate Bill Koch as directly paying the salary of the organization's CEO.

Cape Wind produced a new report today entitled, ‘Cape Wind & Massachusetts – Creating Jobs and Providing Clean Power to Massachusetts’.

This new report details how Cape Wind can uniquely deliver large scale clean energy benefits to Massachusetts, create jobs and enhance energy security and reliability.

Half of Cape Wind’s power has already been sold to Massachusetts electric consumers and Cape Wind plans to sell more of its power here to make the benefits of this project a reality and to establish Massachusetts as the U.S. leader in offshore wind power.

You can download this 11-page report by clicking here.

Cape Wind Associates, the company behind the 130-turbine wind farm to be built in Nantucket Sound, are urging Massachusetts regulators to require that a merger between NStar and Connecticut-based Northeast Utilities include a condition to buy 50 percent of the power generated by the offshore wind project.

“Think big,’’ said Dennis Duffy, vice president of Cape Wind Associates, who last week filed a letter to the state Department of Public Utilities asking officials to make NStar and Northeast Utilities purchase “the remaining output of the CWA project.’’

Other groups watching the case, including the state Department of Energy Resources and the nonprofit Conservation Law Foundation, made similar entreaties, asking regulators to compel the utility companies to enter a long-term contract to buy electricity from a wind farm.
Note:

Click here to read this article in the Boston Globe

When summer temperatures climb in New England, some people head to Cape Cod, where cool air blowing off the Atlantic Ocean often helps lower temperatures to more comfortable levels. But that characteristic sea breeze offers more than an escape during the hottest days; it also means offshore wind power can chip in when electricity demand is at its peak.

...According to recent research from Stony Brook University, there is a distinct trend of windy weather that develops in the summer between New Jersey and New York harbor, and extending northeastward up to Cape Cod. According to meteorology professor Brian Colle, the wind can be enhanced by 20 to 30 percent along this stretch of coast during the warmest months.

“It’s more than just standing at the beach and having the wind blowing on your face; it’s more than a sea breeze,” says Colle. Even though the air over the land heats up quickly during the summer, he explains, the air over the water can stay as much as 20°F cooler. That temperature difference sets up a difference in air pressure, and sends the cooler ocean air blowing towards the land.

Note: Click here to read this article by scientist and journalist Alyson Kenward on the website Climate Progress

Click here to read Boston Globe article that includes Jim Gordon in the top 3 most Innovative in Energy & Manufacturing in the region.

...But he [Immelt] could not resist wading into the debate around Massachusetts' proposed Cape Wind project, which could be the nation's first offshore wind farm, although opponents in the nearby Cape Cod resort area have complained it would sully their views.

"I have a lot of friends that have houses on the Cape and on Nantucket, and I say build those big turbines there," Immelt said.

Those words came despite the fact the Cape Wind turbines will come from one of GE's largest rivals -- Siemens AG. (Reporting by Scott Malone; editing by Andre Grenon)

Click here to read this Reuters article

On April 19, 2011, U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar came to Boston to announce his approval of Cape Wind's Construction and Operations Plan.

U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announces his approval of the Cape Wind Construction & Operations Plan as Massachusetts Secretary of Energy & Environmental Affairs Richard Sullivan and Cape Wind Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Dennis Duffy look on.  (Photo Source: The Associated Press)

Links to the Announcement, Press Coverage, and Reaction:

Department of Interior Press Release    Associated Press    Reuters    Bloomberg    Wall Street Journal     National Journal    New England Cable News    WBUR(1)   WBUR(2)    Nasdaq    UPI    Cape Cod Times   Barnstable Patriot    Cape Cod Today    Congressman Ed Markey    American Wind Energy Association    National Ocean Industries Association    Center for American Progress

BBC World Newshour interview by Claire Bolderson of Cape Wind Communications Director Mark Rodgers, the interview begins at 28:30 -- to listen click here