The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center is hiring the New England Aquarium and the College of Staten Island to collect migratory and habitat data on marine wildlife to help state and federal agencies evaluate sites for future wind farms south of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.
The researchers will conduct survey work for a full year to collect data on birds, whales and sea turtles in federal waters south of the two islands. New England Aquarium was awarded $570,000 to track whales and turtles, and the College of Staten Island was awarded $330,000 to track bird populations.
The surveys follow a decision by the U.S. Department of Interior to gauge private-sector interest in developing wind turbine projects within a 3,000-square-mile expanse of federal waters, beginning 13.8 miles south of Martha’s Vineyard.
( patriotledger )
[mappress]
Source: patriotledger, July 20, 2011;