For developers of renewable power projects, the regulatory landscape is always shifting. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, for example, added the option of a cash grant in lieu of an investment tax credit—a provision that was set to expire at the end of 2010, but that received an 11^th hour extension during the lame duck Congressional session.

In the intensifying search for sustainable power options, solar energy is emerging as a viable solution. Many utility companies are investing in utility-scale solar plants, and the growth outlook looks strong -- especially for PV plants, which promise rapid and steady improvements in price and performance.

For more than a decade the prospect of a wind farm in Nantucket Sound has sparked imaginations and spurred debate. At times it looked like a pipe dream, but the project is now fully permitted and construction is expected to begin in the next year. Jim Gordon, president of Energy Management Inc. -- the company developing the Cape Wind project -- spoke with Green Utility about the benefits of offshore wind power, and the challenges of developing the nation’s first offshore wind farm.

GU: How did your company get involved with wind energy?

GU: What’s driving your investment in renewables right now?