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<\/a><\/p>\nA "casino for wind power" deal might be in the works for Cape Wind.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
One of the obstacles standing in the way of Cape Wind’s 420-megawatt wind farm off Cape Cod is the Mashpee Wampanoag, whose tribal leaders say the $1 billion offshore facility and its 130 turbines would desecrate tribal burial sites<\/a>.<\/p>\n But is a deal in the works? G.E.R. has learned that federal authorities could approve the Cape Wind project but in a consilatory move would also support the Mashpee Wampanoag’s plan to develop a casino. A spokeswoman for the Tribal Council declined to comment.<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Just last week the Interior Department\u2019s Advisory Council on Historic Preservation report, released a negative report<\/a> that said the Cape Wind project in Nantucket Sound would be \u201cpervasive, destructive and\u2026 permanent.\u201d Shortly after the release of that report, Cape Wind announced a supply deal with Siemens<\/a> for 130 offshore wind turbines.<\/p>\n These days, gaming is a hot topic in Massachusetts.<\/p>\n The state legislature just introduced a bill<\/a> that would allow the state to sell casino licenses, potentially generating some $100 million in additional revenues. However, as a Federally-recognized tribe, the Mashpee Wampanoag casino permitting process would largely be overseen by federal agencies, including the Interior Department’s Office of of Indian Gaming Management<\/a> (part of the Bureau of Indian Affairs). The Interior Department is also expected to rule on a federal permit for the Cape Wind project in the next few weeks<\/a>.<\/p>\n