House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Doc Hastings (WA-04) released the following statement after today’s announcement that the Administration will allow the private investment and development of the Cape Wind Energy Project in the Federal waters off the Massachusetts coast:

“For an Administration that has constantly dragged its feet on American energy development, today’s news is a welcome surprise.  While I’m interested in reading the full details of the plan that Secretary Salazar is approving, I applaud his decision to move ahead and take a stand against those who oppose various types of energy development.  Americans have waited nine long years for this project to become a reality and it’s encouraging that there appears to be an end in sight to the delays.  After 15 months in office, this Administration has finally now issued its first offshore commercial wind lease.  While a good step, the Department must start picking up the pace.  Americans need energy and Americans need jobs, both needs can be answered through the responsible development of our resources.  Now that the final decisions have been made, I would hope that the opponents to this project would withhold litigation and allow this project to move forward responsibly and quickly.”

# # #

Print version of this document