What is the current status of the permitting process for Cape Wind?
In February, 2007 Cape Wind filed its Draft Environmental Impact Report with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Previously, in November, 2004 the Corps of Engineers issued a 3,800 page Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) on Cape Wind that found substantial benefits and few impacts of the project. An open public comment period ran until February 24, 2005 and about 5,000 written comments were submitted and four public hearings occurred. The next stage in the process will be the Final Environmental Impact Statement. In May, 2005, the Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Board issued a permit for Cape Wind to interconnect its electric cables with the electric transmission system in Massachusetts. Other Massachusetts agencies are awaiting the preparation and completion of the Final Environmental Impact Review to complete their reviews (more on the DEIS).
