130 wind turbines will be built, starting this fall. Quick facts:

• It’s America’s first off-shore wind farm
• 130 turbines @ 260 feet tall (440 feet tall at the blade tips)
• Capacity for 450 megawatts, but will operate at about 170mw
• Supplies 75% electricity to Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and other islands
• Will power 200,000 homes, possibly more (low ball number)
• $3 billion to build
• The towers will appear “one half-inch above the horizon” from the beach
• 10 years to build, stalled by many lawsuits (11 still pending!)
• “10 years is unacceptable” said Obama, complaining about permits/lawsuits
• 600-1,000 jobs per Governor Deval Patrick (not sure how, I predict less)

Below, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar flew to Massachusetts to announce the approval. More, here, and here. It’s a big, big win for the East Coast!