Cape Wind Officials Say Nantucket Sound Project Not Dead Yet

HYANNIS – After suffering a setback in January when they missed a financing deadline, Cape Wind officials say their wind farm project in Nantucket is not dead yet.

The missed deadline resulted in the loss of major contracts from National Grid and Eversource Energy that was needed to start construction.

But support may be growing in the legislature for a bill that would enable utilities to enter into more long-term contracts for clean energy, and officials with Cape Wind are looking to bid on those contracts.

Lawmakers are feeling the push to find new sources of power because of the closing of the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station in Plymouth by June of 2019.

“It’s not over yet,” said Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound Executive Director Audra Parker. “The Alliance and the opposition to Cape Wind is winning the fight to protect Nantucket Sound. Cape Wind has no customers, no financing, but they do still hold a long-term lease to 46 square miles of Nantucket Sound, so we do have to keep up the fight.”

Critics called for the end of Cape Wind’s project, 130-turbines over 26 acres in Nantucket Sound, after both utility companies backed out of their power deal.

Since then, new developers have come forward, including Deepwater Wind and Dong Energy, who have secured leases for areas further south of New England.

That includes a small wind farm near Block Island developed by Deepwater Wind, which is expected to be finished construction next year.

For now, the Alliance is focusing on informing the public and getting support to defeat Cape Wind and their hold on 46 square miles of Nantucket Sound.

The project is currently in federal appeals court, awaiting a verdict.

“It’s a long term lease that can be developed or even transferred to another developer, so as long as they hold that lease, Nantucket Sound remains vulnerable and we have to keep up the fight, keep up the lawsuits, to get that lease revoked,” said Parker.

Calls to Cape Wind for comment were never returned.

By JUSTIN SAUNDERS, CapeCod.com NewsCenter