Friday, April 5, 2013 | By: Marie Szaniszlo | Boston Herald | bostonherald.comFriday, April 5, 2013 | By: Marie Szaniszlo | Boston Herald | bostonherald.com
The entire Massachusetts congressional delegation has written a letter urging the Department of Energy to act quickly on Cape Wind’s loan guarantee application so that the first off-shore wind farm in the country can move forward.
“Cape Wind is critical for three reasons. It will create much-needed jobs, provide an economic boost to the southern part of the commonwealth and promote the clean-energy technology that is critical to the future of our country,” said Rep. Bill Keating. “Further, being home to the country’s first off-shore wind farm will establish Massachusetts as a hub of new energy technology, advancing our research and development industries. My colleagues and I are urging the Department of Energy to act now so this important project can go forward.”
The letter, dated April 1, was sent to Energy Secretary Steven Chu, as well as Treasury Secretary Jack Lew and Deputy Director Jeffrey Zients from the White House Office of Management and Budget, and signed by all nine members of the House and both senators from Massachusetts.
They noted that Cape Wind has promised about 1,000 Bay State jobs during its construction and building a supply chain for the emerging offshore clean energy industry within the state could serve as a model for future projects nationwide.
In a statement today, Cape Wind President Jim Gordon said: “I am grateful to Congressman Bill Keating and to the entire Massachusetts congressional delegation for their leadership and vision in pursuit of a cleaner and more prosperous energy future for Massachusetts and for helping launch the U.S. offshore wind industry.”
The Department of Energy has identified a goal for the United States to develop 54 gigawatts of offshore wind power, which would create 40,000 American jobs and a robust domestic supply chain that would economically revitalize several U.S. ports.
Cape Wind is the first U.S. offshore wind farm to secure all of its federal, state and local permits and to have received a commercial lease and approval of its construction and operations plan.
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/04/05/massachusetts-delegation-pushes-for-energy-dept-loan-for-cape-wind/