Chafee sees state as future leader in wind energy

By The Associated Press

news@abc6.com 

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) _ Gov. Lincoln Chafee says Rhode Island will have a major role to play in the offshore wind industry, even though a developer chose to use a Massachusetts port to build a large wind farm.      

Rhode Island officials had hoped Cape Wind would use New Bedford, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island’s Quonset Point for the staging and construction of a proposed 130-turbine wind farm off the coast of Cape Cod, bringing jobs and economic activity to both states. Cape Wind announced Friday it had signed a lease agreement with Massachusetts.     

A spokesman says the company is keeping its lease option at Quonset in case it needs to use both ports.         

Chafee says Rhode Island will become a leader in the industry as projects for Rhode Island energy developer Deepwater Wind move forward.

(C) The Associated Press 2014