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Cape Wind Ready To Bring First Offshore Wind Farm

Posted by timothy on from the confident-predictions-led-to-the-big-dig-too dept.

An anonymous reader writes "The Cape Wind Project, a wind farm of 130 turbines to be built in Nantucket Sound off the coast of Cape Cod, can finally move forward as they have been given a green light by the US Minerals Management service. Leaders from labor, civic, and environmental groups across Massachusetts and the country hailed the release of the report, as it is the final federal environmental report needed for the long delayed and much scrutinized project to finally move forward. When completed, Cape Wind will be capable of supplying up to 420 megawatts of electricity, potentially offsetting as much as a million tons of carbon emissions and saving more than 100 million gallons of oil every year. But the environment wont be the sole beneficiary of Cape Wind. It will likely be a boon to out of work Massachusetts residents, as well, given that as many as 1,000 green jobs could be brought to the Bay State in addition to a significant supply of clean, renewable energy."

3 of 147 comments (clear)

  1. The Loyal Opposition by Van+Cutter+Romney · · Score: 3, Informative

    If anyone wants to read what the Alliance To Save Nantucket Sound wants to say about this, it's here.

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    Help a man when he is in trouble and he will remember you when he is in trouble again.
  2. In related news... by ruin20 · · Score: 3, Informative
    seagull populations decrease as biologists note heavy shark populations near turbines.

    think I'm joking right?

    there's already a lawsuit

    1300 raptors are killed annually. Among them are 70 golden eagles that are federally protected. In total, 4700 birds are killed annually.

    although I'm sure these are a little better planned out then they're predecessors I still haven't heard anyone talk about this in a long while.

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    Oh honey look... How cute... an angry slashdotter!
    1. Re:In related news... by Crazy+Man+on+Fire · · Score: 5, Informative

      What you forgot to mention is the wind farm you're talking about was built over 30 years ago and uses outdated technology. The multitude of smaller turbines turn faster and are much more dangerous to birds than today's larger, more efficient, and slower turning turbines. In fact, the older turbines are being slowly replaced with newer ones to produce more electricity for less money while also killing fewer birds.

      From the Wikipedia article you linked:

      Considered largely obsolete, these numerous small turbines are being gradually replaced with much larger and more cost-effective units. The small turbines are dangerous to various raptors that hunt California Ground Squirrels in the area. 1300 raptors are killed annually. Among them are 70 golden eagles that are federally protected. In total, 4700 birds are killed annually.[2] The larger units turn more slowly and, being elevated higher, are less hazardous to the local wildlife.