Embattled Cape Cod Wind Farm Hits Spiritual Speedbump

The wind farm has been a controversy for nearly 10 years, as locals disputed its impact on the shoreline and their ocean views. Now, two Native American tribes argue that the project would disrupt spiritual viewing of the sunrise.

"Known as Cape Wind, the project is the nation’s first planned offshore wind farm and would cover 24 square miles in the sound, an area roughly the size of Manhattan. The park service decision came in response to a request from two Massachusetts Indian tribes, who said the 130 proposed wind turbines would thwart their spiritual ritual of greeting the sunrise, which requires unobstructed views across the sound, and disturb ancestral burial grounds.

The tribes — the Mashpee Wampanoag of Cape Cod and the Aquinnah Wampanoag of Martha’s Vineyard — sought the listing last fall, shortly before a final federal decision on the project was expected. The project has been in the works since 2001 and is strongly supported by Gov. Deval Patrick."