Cape Wind terminal plan moves forward

NEW BEDFORD, MASS. (WPRI) - The mayor of New Bedford announced Monday that the Environmental Protection Agency has approved construction of the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal at the Port of New Bedford.

The terminal will  be designed to support construction and assembly of wind projects, specifically Cape Wind.

"This will be the first place in America that is set up specifically for the assembly of an offshore wind farm," said Jon Mitchell Mayor

"This is really a two-for.  This project will help cleanup the PCB contamination and it will also create this marine terminal that will support the offshore wind development," said Curt Spalding, EPA regional administrator.

In addition to removing contaminates from the harbor, Mayor Jon Mitchell says the terminal will also allow the port to handle bulk and container shipping.

He also sees it as a boost to the local economy, "It means job opportunities.  We've got to be ready for those opportunities.  With those pieces in place we will have jobs available and that's very exciting."

There's no firm date on when construction of the terminal will begin.