First US wind farm approved off Massachusetts coastline

Apr 28, 2010, 20:07 GMT

Washington - President Barack Obama's administration on Wednesday approved construction of the first offshore US wind farm near the Massachusetts coastline, backing a project fiercely opposed by locals, including the state's late senator Ted Kennedy.

The Cape Wind project is to be built in federal waters near the state's upscale island of Cape Cod. The wind turbines would be visible from many of the exclusive villas on the island, including that of the Kennedy family.

Locals have spent nearly 10 years trying to thwart the 1-billion- dollar wind farm, which could produce up to 468 megawatts of electricity. The Interior Department, which approved the project, said it constituted one of the largest greenhouse-gas reducing efforts in the United States.

'After almost a decade of exhaustive study and analyses, I believe that this undertaking can be developed responsibly and with consideration to the historic and cultural resources in the project area,' said Interior Secretary Ken Salazar.

Massachusetts Senator John Kerry said he could 'accept and support' the decision, but the project still faces legal challenges in state courts.