USA: Cape Wind Calls for Support at Final Public Hearings

As Cape Wind is coming closer to its finalisation,it calls for public support at the last set of public hearings which will be held in Massachusetts.

The Department of Public Utilities (DPU) public hearings on NSTAR’s contract to purchase 27.5 % of Cape Wind’s power will be held on May 30 in Boston. The DPU approved National Grid’s contract to purchase 50% of Cape Wind’s power two years ago. These two contracts allow Cape Wind to get closer to the construction stage, which will pave the way for creation of  600 – 1,000 jobs.

The project’s opponents claim that this contract will cause electric bills to increase. However, as stressed by Cape Wind, the bill impact will be about USD 1 a month for the usual residential customer and no more than a 1% to 2% bill increase for any NSTAR customer. In comparison with the fossil fuel prices, it will save consumers’ money, says Cape Wind.

According to Charles River Associates, Cape Wind will have an impact on New England’s wholesale electric market prices that will decrease, and thus sum over USD 7 billion in savings over the life of the project.

The public hearings will be held in Natick on May 22, in Barnstable on May 23 and in Boston on May 30.

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Offshore WIND staff, May 18, 2012; Image: Cape Wind