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Cape Wind: All Ready to Build, No Buyers Utilities turn noses up at half project's potential power
Posted Dec 19, 2010 4:22 PM CST
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(AP) – After years of review, lawsuits, and opposition, Massachussetts' Cape Wind is still, well, twisting in the wind: Even though it scored its first contract last month, half its power is still up for grabs with no buyers in sight. The controversial offshore wind farm, fiercely opposed by everyone from fishermen to the Kennedy clan, now faces the prospect of being smaller—and more costly—in scale, reports the AP. "It's not that we're for or against Cape Wind," said a spokeswoman for the state's second-largest utility. "We just want to make sure that we are ... being mindful of costs for our customers."

Offshore power is pricier, notes the AP, due to construction and maintenance costs involved at sea. Cape Wind's only customer is set to pay 18.7 cents a kilowatt hour, with a 3.5% increase annually—a figure roughly twice what it pays for fossil fuel-derived power. But the $2 billion project, set to go online in late 2012, would pump green energy into the East Coast's power grid years before any other offshore project, and proponents say its steady rates would help offset volatility with fossil fuels. One advocate is sure utilities will come around: "Really, are they going to choose to be on the wrong side of history here?"

A study released in December 2010 shows New England's onshore and offshore winds blow strong enough to supply  up to 24% of the region's total annual electricity needs by 2020.
A study released in December 2010 shows New England's onshore and offshore winds blow strong enough to supply up to 24% of the region's total annual electricity needs by 2020.   (Robert F. Bukaty)
FILE - In this July 19, 2009 file photo, windmills catch the wind on Stetson Mountain in Range 8, Township 3, Maine. A study released in December 2010 shows New England's onshore and offshore winds blow strong enough to supply  up to 24 percent of the region's total annual electricity...
FILE - In this July 19, 2009 file photo, windmills catch the wind on Stetson Mountain in Range 8, Township 3, Maine. A study released in December 2010 shows New England's onshore and offshore winds blow...   (Robert F. Bukaty)
FILE - In this  July 21, 2005, file photo, wind turbines generate power at the Searsburg Wind Power Facility in Searsburg, Vt. A study released in December 2010 shows New England's onshore and offshore winds blow strong enough to supply  up to 24 percent of the region's total annual electricity...
FILE - In this July 21, 2005, file photo, wind turbines generate power at the Searsburg Wind Power Facility in Searsburg, Vt. A study released in December 2010 shows New England's onshore and offshore...   (Tim Roske)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 7 comments
Realist
Dec 20, 2010 10:40 AM CST
This whole situation is disgusting. The huge 'energy' corporations are squeezing out anything that competes with them. Eventually they know they'll have to switch to alternative energy sources, but until it's essential, and unless they are in control of said sources, they just won't play. In a few decades we'll no longer be held ransom to these trans-nationals for fossil fuel - we'll be held ransom to them for wind, water and sunlight.
JonmarkP
Dec 19, 2010 9:02 PM CST
Fossil fuels are heavily subsidized in all kinds of ways, but those costs are mostly hidden-everything from health costs to subsidized transport costs to wars; renewable energy's costs are right there in plain sight. On a level playing field, renewable energy is far cheaper than fossil fuel or nuclear energy.
RDSCOTT
Dec 19, 2010 5:16 PM CST
Beware wind, solar,and green energies, and any other hopes for the future of all that we hold dear, fore the force of Senator McConnell will stomp his (clean coal technology) stained boots on all.

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