The federal government has approved construction of the first offshore wind farm in the United States off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. German company Siemens will install 130, 3.6-megawatt turbines in Nantucket Sound as soon as the fall of 2011.

"The Department [of the Interior] has taken extraordinary steps to fully evaluate Cape Wind's potential impacts on environmental and cultural resources of Nantucket Sound," said Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar. "By signing the Construction and Operations Plan today, we are even closer towards ushering in our nation's first offshore wind energy facility while creating jobs."

"With today's announcement by Secretary Salazar, we are one step closer to benefiting from the clean energy, green jobs, and long-term economic benefits that will result from creating the nation's first offshore wind farm," said Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick. "States up and down the East Coast are now looking to Massachusetts with envy as we launch this brand new American industry."

When fully operational, the wind farm could supply up to three-quarters of annual energy requirements for Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by more than 733,000 tons each year.