Transmission: Impossible

Cape Wind project denied transmission-line permit, developer to appeal

Posted at 11:42 AM on 19 Oct 2007

The Cape Wind project was dealt another setback this week when a local commission denied a permit for the transmission lines that would carry electricity to the grid from the 130 offshore wind turbines that Cape Wind Associates proposed in 2001. In a 12-0 vote, the commission's decision to withhold the permit was based on what they said was a lack of information on the impact of the transmission lines. CWA has said it will fight the decision; the company could elect to try again with the local commission and/or appeal to a state board to override the decision. Other than acquiring the transmission-line permit, the project must be approved by the U.S. Minerals Management Service since the turbines would be in federal waters. A draft report from the agency is expected next month with a final decision coming sometime next year.

sources:  The Boston Globe, Reuters, Cape Cod Times