Politicians call for action on offshore wind project

By: The Associated Press

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (AP) – Massachusetts congressional leaders are asking federal officials to move quickly on permits for the Vineyard Wind offshore wind project.     

Vineyard Wind has signed contracts to sell 800 megawatts of power a year to three Massachusetts electric utilities.

The company planned to begin construction later this year off the Massachusetts coast.     

A final environmental impact statement and a record of decision on the company’s plan was expected Friday.     

The Cape Cod Times reports the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management says it needs another six months to prepare a supplement to its environmental impact statement draft.     

Five Democratic members of Congress from Massachusetts and three of their Republican colleagues from Louisiana wrote a letter Monday to the interior secretary and commerce secretary, urging them to work together to keep the 84-turbine project viable.