Frequently Asked Questions about the Cape Wind Project
Cape Wind is an offshore wind energy project that has been proposed for installation on Horseshoe Shoal, a shallow area in Nantucket Sound. The wind park would consist of 130 wind turbine generators spaced over an area of approximately 24 square miles. Electricity from the turbines would be transmitted to the mainland via underwater cable and would feed into the New England regional power grid.
As one of the first offshore wind projects proposed in the United States, Cape Wind has generated both excitement and controversy. Many proponents believe that it represents an important step toward meeting state and regional clean energy goals. Other stakeholders are concerned about how the project could affect Nantucket Sound and the people who use the area for commerce and recreation. These issues have been addressed in several detailed reviews, including:
- six months of stakeholder meetings convened in 2002 by the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MTC);
- a July 2004 decision by the Massachusetts Energy Facility Siting Board approving the construction of two transmission lines to deliver electricity from Cape Wind to the regional power grid;
- a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, published in November 2004
- a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) by the Minerals Management Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, published in January 2008
To provide citizens with sound, accessible information about the Cape Wind project, MTC Collaborative developed the list below of frequently asked questions. It summarizes findings from project regulatory reviews and other expert findings on offshore wind energy issues and Northeast energy planning, which are cited throughout these questions and answers.
Questions:
Project parameters
- How big would the Cape Wind farm be? Would it include other structures in addition to wind turbine towers?
- How much space would Cape Wind occupy in Nantucket Sound?
- Where are the best wind energy resources in New England?
- Where are the best offshore wind resources in New England?
- Could a wind farm comparable in size to Cape Wind be built elsewhere in New England, either on land or offshore?
- Will offshore wind projects in shallow waters advance work on siting wind farms in deep waters?
- Does New England need additional energy resources to meet electricity demand in future years? How would Cape Wind contribute to this need?
- Would Cape Wind contribute to state and regional renewable energy requirements?
- What are the main fuels that New England will use to meet future electricity demand, whether or not Cape Wind is built?
- Would the intermittent nature of wind energy significantly increase regional electricity prices or disrupt power grid operations?
- Will energy generated by Cape Wind be consumed on the Cape?
- How much does it cost to build wind farms compared to other energy sources?
- How do the costs of offshore wind projects compare to land-based wind farms?
- How much does electricity from wind farms cost compared to power from other sources?
- Why do wind farms receive tax credits and other government support?
- Would Cape Wind pay royalties in return for using space in Nantucket Sound to generate energy?
Impacts on air quality, climate change, and water quality
- What are the most important air pollution concerns in Massachusetts?
- How would Cape Wind affect local and regional air quality?
- Are Massachusetts and New England major contributors to global climate change?
- What are Massachusetts and New England doing to address climate change? Is Cape Wind relevant to those activities?
- How would wind energy be affected if the United States adopts national limits on greenhouse gas emissions?
- What is the risk of oil spills from the wind park?
- How will Cape Wind impact the geology of Nantucket Sound?
- How will the transmission system linking Cape Wind to the power grid affect areas that it crosses under water and on land?
- How visible will the wind turbine towers be from Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket?
Animal/bird/marine organism impacts
- Is Horseshoe Shoals an important area for birds? What kinds? How would they be affected by Cape Wind?
- How would Cape Wind impact shellfish and other organisms that live on and beneath the seabed?
- How would Cape Wind impact commercial and recreational fisheries in Nantucket Sound?
- How would Cape Wind impact marine animals such as whales, seals, and turtles?
- Would Cape Wind affect bats?
- Have impacts on birds and sea life been studied at other offshore wind farms?