Essay --

The Cape Wind Project is a new, controversial offshore wind farm in Nantucket Sound. The project is presented by Jim Gordon of Energy Management Inc. As of right now, the project is approved, upon completion it could be the only offshore wind energy project in the United States. The project will force construction of 130, 400 foot wind turbines in Horseshoe Shoal, Nantucket Sound. The total cost of the project is estimated at around $2.6 billion with Cape Wind already arranging to borrow two million from The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ. Cape Wind has already lined up having the turbines supplied by Siemens. Based off of successful wind farms in Europe, Cape Wind is expected to be a huge asset to the Cape and Islands, even with the controversy surrounding the turbine’s presence. Light construction of the project already began in 2013. The Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound is one of the project’s largest groups against the construction of the turbines. In 2010, the nation’s first commercial lease was given to Cape Wind to construct the offshore wind energy facility. â€Å"The lease area is comprised of approximately 46 square miles in Nantucket Sound offshore Massachusetts, which accounts for both the project area and a buffer zone. The 33-year lease will cost Cape Wind $88,278 in annual rental payments prior to energy production, and a 2 to 7 percent operating fee once production has commenced. The fee is based on an estimate of what the project’s output would sell for in regional markets,† (BOEM). In April 2011 the construction and operations plan was approved and currently it is in the projection of the finances phase, construction is expected to begin soon after. According to Cape Wind’s website, the project will result in, â€Å"cl... ... the potential negatives. The construction has the potential to cause huge disruptions in the delicate marine and wildlife that is present in Nantucket Sound and also to affect the islands due to their large size, location and also lights needed to alert travelers. Since the turbines are not complete yet, the effects are only stipulation but evidence from wind turbines in Europe show that they pose minimal risk. The move towards a green, renewable form of energy is modern and important to the current day in age. Many worry about the atheistic disruption the turbines will cause but it is important to view this as the least of the potential issues. Cape Wind is a forward thinking project that is based off of successful offshore wind farms in Europe, it will help the Cape and Islands begin to step forward towards a cleaner means of energy that is becoming a necessity.