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Cape Wind Moving Headquarters To Falmouth

Cape Wind has bought a marina in Falmouth to serve as its base of operations.

The offshore wind farm's purchase of East Marine in Falmouth Harbor will ultimately lead to 50 permanent jobs for skilled technicians who will maintain the wind turbines, according to Cape Wind CEO Jim Gordon.

Gordon says he expects to secure financing for Cape Wind next year, as the region moves toward becoming a hub for renewable energy.

"So there's a tremendous opportunity to create a new industry that can take its place amongst the life science industry, computer software and hardware engineering, medical software technology," he said in a conference call Thursday.

Cape Wind still faces legal challenges, however.

The Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound has appealed the latest federal ruling that said the project poses no danger to airplanes.

The Federal Aviation Administration last week issued a determination of "no hazard" for the wind farm. The alliance says the decision is steeped in politics.

FAA documents have shown employees felt political pressure to approve Cape Wind.

Audra Parker, the group's president, said she's optimistic about the appeal.

"We already won this same battle once, in the same court; there's no reason to believe we won't win again," she said. "And it's clear this project has no real chance of ever being built."

Cape Wind spokesman Mark Rodgers said the appeal has dim prospects, since the latest FAA ruling clearly addressed the court's concerns.

Rodgers said this is the 15th lawsuit filed by the alliance.

"Well, the opposition group is very litigious, so it's not surprising," he said.

With reporting by The Associated Press and the WBUR Newsroom

This article was originally published on August 23, 2012.

This program aired on August 23, 2012. The audio for this program is not available.

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