Cape Cod Commission voted 12-0 late this afternoon against Cape Wind's application to bring its underwater electrical cables ashore from the wind farm.

"It is a foregone conclusion that the Cape Cod Commission will refuse to grant Cape Wind's permit for an underwater cable (Thursday)," said Barbara Hill, executive director of the pro-wind farm non-profit Clean Power Now. "It is clear that the Commission is poised to claim it is somehow lacking enough information. What is also clear is that the Commission has made a mockery of the important role it is intended to play in protecting all the people of Cape Cod."

Cape Wind Associates planned to run a pair of 115 kV transmission lines through state waters and on land in Yarmouth and Barnstable to connect its proposed 130 General Electric Co 3.6 megawatt wind turbines, capable of generating over 400 MW overall. They would generate enough power to meet the needs of Cape Cod and the islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket.

"The Commission's denial based, not on the merits but, on claims that Cape Wind provided insufficient information does not square with the record," Jim Gordon, president of Cape Wind, said in a release.

Behind the Cape Wind project is Energy Management Inc, of Boston, which started planning the wind farm in 2001, suggesting the location on Horseshoe Shoal in Nantucket Sound. Initially, they estimated a cost of around $500 million and a due date sometime in 2004. In the meantime, the costs have risen to around $1 billion and the permitting process may continue through 2008 or beyond. The wind farm is expected to take about 18 months to construct after all approvals are received.

"In taking this regrettable step, the Commission is providing the people of the Cape all the evidence they need to know that the Commission has been captured by a few special interests with enough money to buy just about anything they want, including the government agency intended to protect us all," said Barbara Hill.

The wind farm's location is 5 miles away from the Cape Cod shore and its turbines would stand about 440 feet from the surface of the water to the tip of the blade if they ever get built.