Cape Wind and NECEC Make Moves

It has been a big week in the MA clean energy space. First of all, Cape Wind has finally been approved! After 9 years of near constant battles over environmental issues, aesthetic appeal and everything in between, the U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar finally gave the stamp of approval for Cape Wind to move forward. This amazing feat is due to the entrepreneurial drive of Jim Gordon, CEO of Cape Wind, as well as the $45 milion to needed to meet government requirements and fight back. Granted it is a slightly more scaled down version than orginally planned, but it sets a precedent for future off-shore wind projects across the US. Jim Gordon embodies the passion that entrepreneurs must have in order to succeed. http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/04/29/cape.wind.ceo.profile/ 
Additionally this week, Nick d'Arbeloff, formerly the president of the New England Clean Energy Council (NECEC), took a job as VP of enterprise energy management with EnerNOC. For those of you not familiar with the NECEC, it is a non-profit that works to promote a clean energy economy across New England. Peter Rothstein has taken over his position. It will be exciting to watch what, if any, changes will happen within the NECEC as a result of this leadership shift. http://www.xconomy.com/boston/2010/04/28/darbeloff-departs-new-england-c...
All of this goes to show that things are happening in the MA clean energy ecosystem and more excitement is to come. Good news for all of the clean energy entrepreneurs out there.
By Christine Ribeiro. Christine is an Associate at MassChallenge.