Keating Writes Lawmakers Supporting Cape Wind Loan Guarantee Bid

The 11-member Massachusetts congressional delegation has sent a letter to the U.S. Secretary of Energy urging him to approve a loan guarantee for the Cape Wind offshore wind project.

The Department of Energy is currently considering a loan guarantee for the 130-turbine project planned for Nantucket Sound.

The letter written by Rep. Bill Keating says the project will create jobs and help establish Massachusetts as a hub of new energy technology. [Associated Press]

Cape Wind aims to be the nation's first offshore wind farm. Developers of the $2.6 billion project say it will create 600 to 1,000 jobs during construction and 50 permanent jobs. Critics say the project will ruin the sound and that its power is too expensive.

The guarantee would cover just a portion of the project, which is currently seeking financing.