Cape Wind is dead, but several states are still planning to build offshore wind farms at considerable costs to the consumer. With offshore wind costs 2.5 times higher than onshore wind costs, the economics do not favor their development
Cape Wind, a proposed $2.5 billion wind farm off Cape Cod, Massachusetts, is no longer a viable project. Two New England electric utility companies have ended their contracts to buy its power and the state Energy Facilities Siting Board has declined to extend permits for the project.1 Despite first filing for a commercial license 16 years ago, the project's feasibility has been in jeopardy since offshore wind is more expensive than onshore wind2, which is fulfilling the state's Renewable Portfolio Standard along with solar power. Additional obstacles to its completion have included issues regarding ship navigation, marine and bird kills and impacts to the local economy. Opponents to the project included property owners, Native American tribes, commercial fishermen, shippers and local officials, among others.3