After years of struggle, the Cape Wind project has come one giant step closer to approval today. Cape Wind passed a major milestone today at the start of its final year of permitting with the release of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) from the lead Federal permitting agency, the Minerals management Service (MMS) of the Department of Interior.

From the MMS DEIS:

* Horseshoe Shoal in Nantucket Sound is environmentally and economically superior to the alternative sites that were studied.

* Cape Wind will reduce regional emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) by 880,000 tons per year. CO2 is a greenhouse gas that causes climate change.

* Cape Wind will reduce regional air pollution emissions such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide that harm human health.

* Cape Wind will create hundreds of jobs.

* Cape Wind will provide a needed supply of electricity and improve electric diversification and reliability.

* Cape Wind will go a long way toward Massachusetts being able to achieve its renewable energy requirements under the Stateâ€™s Renewable Portfolio Standard.

* Cape Wind will not have major impacts on birds, fish, marine mammals, fishing, tourism, or on sea or air navigation.

That last one is especially important, as it was a major source of outright lies by the opposition. This project has been studied up one side and down the other, and its nice to see some people in charge finally realize just how good it will be for the area.

â€œWith news of $100 / barrel oil, urgent calls from scientists to take action on climate change and with the publicâ€™s desire for greater energy independence and new jobs, this report couldnâ€™t come at a more important moment,â€ Cape Wind President Jim Gordon said.

â€œThe release of this report will move Cape Wind forward and help establish Massachusetts as a world leader in offshore renewable energy,â€ Gordon continued.

This MMS DEIS comes three years after the former Federal lead reviewing agency, the US Army Corps of Engineers issued their comprehensive review of Cape Wind that found significant public benefits and few negative impacts. In 2005, the Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Board approved Cape Windâ€™s application after a 33-month (!) review finding the project would provide needed power, reduce energy costs by $25 million dollars per year and provide significant air quality benefits for New England.

In his March 2007 Certificate, Massachusetts Secretary of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Ian Bowles said of Cape Wind: â€œOverall, the project represents a balanced and thoughtful commitment to action that will contribute to the long-term preservation and enhancement of our environment.â€

Cape Wind encourages the public and interested stakeholders to participate in the 60-day public comment period by sending written comments to the MMS and by speaking at the four public hearings in March.

The MMS has previously stated they expect to issue a Final Environmental Impact Statement and to issue a Record of Decision on Cape Wind later this year. With the price of oil, the dangers of global warming, and now the umpteenth million agency giving it approval I just don’t see what anyone would have against this project.

Oh yea now I remember, a couple rich people might on some clear days actually be able to see tiny little wind turbines off in the distance. Well here’s an idea rich people, suck it up! If you want your ocean front mansions that use super amounts of energy, and want your private jets, and want your big hummers, and to buy new cloths every season, well guess what its time to pay your dues. You will have to deal with tiny little toothpick sized white sticks on the horizon. Boo freaking hoo. We can only hope that Ted “but thats where I sail my yacht” Kennedy doesn’t decide that some other random US regulatory agency should spend another seven years looking at this project.