Cape Cod Wind Farm Electricity Costs Twice as Much

Well, the numbers are in for what Cape Wind will actually cost consumers - yes all National Grid consumers in the state - and they’re not pretty.

It’s not enough that the controversial $2 billion project threatens to blot the horizon of otherwise pristine Nantucket Sound. It’s not enough that a private developer would be allowed to build in the midst of a national treasure.

No, now we’re finding out what we’re all going to have to pay to support this ill-conceived venture, if the Department of Public Utilities gives its approval.

cw-0 National Grid announced yesterday it had reached an agreement with Cape Wind to buy half of the wind farm’s output over 15 years, beginning in 2013, for 20.7 cents per kilowatt hour. The price would increase every year under that contract by 3.5 percent. Currently the cost of electricity from conventional sources runs from 9 to 12 cents per kilowatt hour.

National Grid noted that its purchases from Cape Wind are expected to add about $1.59 a month for the average residential customer.