AUDIO: Secretary Salazar | Gov. Patrick | Q&A

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced his approval of a controversial wind farm in Massachusetts at a press conference in Boston today.

Salazar said the Cape Wind developer will have to modify its plans in order to protect sacred sites and cultural sites. He said he met with the Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe and the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe to understand their concerns about the project.

The tribes believe 440-foot turbines that are part of the project will block their view of the sun and disrupt burial grounds and archaeological sites at Nantucket Sound. Salazar said Cape Wind will scale back the number of turbines and conduct additional environmental studies before moving forward.

The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation urged Salazar to reject the project, citing tribal concerns. The Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe has promised a lawsuit.

David Hayes, the deputy secretary at Interior, said the department will engage in "further government-to-government consultations" with both tribes as the project proceeds.

Get the Story:
Regulators Approve First Offshore Wind Farm in U.S (The New York Times 4/28)
Salazar approves Cape Wind (The Boston Globe 4/28)
Reaction to the approval of the Cape Wind project (The Boston Globe 4/28)

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