http://www.energyefficiencynews.com/articles/i/5330/?cid=3

The US first offshore wind energy project, Cape Wind, off the Massachusetts coast has cleared its latest hurdle as being deemed no hazard by the FAA.

After years of aeronautical review of the $1 billion Cape Wind plans, the FAA has concluded that the project "poses no hazard to air navigation".

The 486 MW offshore wind farm in Nantucket Sound has now received all federal and state approvals and has been issued an operations lease by the federal government.

Meanwhile, a 50 MW wind farm on the outskirts of Ulan Bator in Mongolia is nearing completion.

Mongolia currently generates 80% of its electricity from five large coal-fired power plants and the region is the biggest exporter of coal to China.

But the new wind farm being developed by Mongolian investment firm Newcom will provide 5% of Mongolia's needs and represents the start of the region's exploitation of its abundant renewable potential.

According to experts, the region has vast swathes of land bathed in sunlight for more than 300 days a year and with an almost constant wind. All in all, Mongolia could have the potential to generate some 2.6 TW of renewable energy.

Closer to home, Danish wind turbine manufacturer Vestas has signed a deal with Italian developer Santa Luce, part of the Fera group, for 11 of its V100-1.8 MW turbines.

The V100s will be installed at the 19.8 MW Santa Luce Wind Power Plant in Tuscany starting in the third quarter of the year.

But in less good news for the industry, Vestas is reported to be laying off 450 workers at its tower factory in Colorado and Indian turbine manufacturer Suzlon Energy may join it after reporting its second biggest quarterly loss since 2007.