Press articles on Nomans Wind announcement

Several good articles about our Nomans Wind announcement appeared; here's the links:

Providence Business Journal on 8/19/2011: Neptune Wind will pitch wind farm off Rhode Island coast http://www.pbn.com/Neptune-Wind-will-pitch-offshore-wind-farm,60600

Boston Business Journal on 8/19/2011: Mass. firm seeks offshore wind farm with more power than Cape Wind http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/news/2011/08/19/neptune-wind-seeks-to-build-80-to-100.html?ana=twt

Mass High Tech on 8/19/2011: Neptune Wind sites wind farm off the Mass., R.I. border  http://www.masshightech.com/stories/2011/08/15/daily64-Neptune-Wind-sites-wind-farm-off-the-Mass-RI-border.html

Offshore Wind Wire on 8/25/2011: ANALYSIS: BOEMRE Call Prompts Offshore Wind Development Between MA and RI http://offshorewindwire.com/2011/08/25/analysis-boemre-call-prompts-interest/

Thank you to the reporters and editors for this coverage.

Neptune Wind Announces Intent to Develop a 500 MW Offshore Wind Farm South of Massachusetts in Federal Waters

Neptune Wind intends to develop, construct and operate an utility scale offshore wind farm about 20 nautical miles south of the Massachusetts/Rhode Island border. The project, called Nomans Wind, is being planned as a 500 MW generation facility and will employ next generation offshore turbines designed for the strong wind regime in this area. Water depths range from 20 to 40 meters, requiring the use of a jacket structure foundation that can withstand harsh marine conditions.

Yesterday’s announcement by U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, and Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee effectively launched the next phase of the offshore wind industry in New England with a Call for Information and Nominations for development in the Area of Mutual Interest (AMI) between Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Hundreds of new jobs will be created for Southern New England as this industry develops, in addition to providing clean energy to hundreds of thousands of homes at an affordable cost.

Having already qualified as a commercial energy leaseholder on the Outer Continental Shelf in the AMI, Neptune Wind will submit a Nomination for the Nomans Wind proposed lease area by the October 3^rd, 2011 deadline established by the Department of Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement. The company plans to use a new portside facility in New Bedford, Massachusetts for some manufacturing and construction operations, but is also exploring port and other facilities in Rhode Island at Quonset Point to complement its New Bedford activities.

The company carefully considered the reported results of the RI Ocean Special Area Management Plan (SAMP) study in its site selection process. Moreover, through consultations and meetings with commercial fishermen and related parties the company believes it has chosen an acceptable area for development, but plans to continue to work closely with these important interests as development progresses in order that both industries can profitably use New England's rich offshore resources.

Neptune Wind submitted a Nomination for a project in federal waters off the coast of New Jersey earlier this year and has expressed interest in other potential lease areas south and southwest of Nantucket Island, Massachusetts.

Nominating 4th lease area

In addition to the three previously disclosed utility scale lease sites in federal waters off the coasts of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, Neptune Wind is planning to nominate a site off the coast of New Jersey. This geographic expansion enables us to diversify our power markets and to take advantage of more aggressive policies around offshore wind development.