The Cape Wind project, an offshore wind generation project proposed to be built off the coast of Nantucket Sound, has finally received federal approval to move forward after a bitter and divisive, decade-long battle. This development would be the first major offshore wind project to be constructed in the U.S. and is planned to produce energy from 130, ~400 foot tall turbines.

For decades, the coal industry has hummed quietly along, producing half of the electricity used in the U.S. We’ve kept ourselves out of the media, comfortable with our role as one of the country’s key energy resources. We “knew” that, despite the occasional bit of bad press, no one would ever seriously consider getting rid of coal-based energy.

Something has changed.