Japan Starts Up Offshore Wind Farm Near Fukushima 

ONAHAMA PORT, Japan  -- An offshore wind farm is now feeding electricity to the tsunami-crippled Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan.
The wind farm is 12 miles offshore of the Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear power plant and will eventually have a generation capacity of 1 gigawatt from 143 turbines, though its significance is not limited to the energy it will produce. Symbolically, the turbines will help restore the role of energy supplier to a region decimated by a population exodus following the multiple meltdowns triggered by the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami.
"Many people were victimized and hurt by the accident at the Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear power plant, so it is very meaningful to have a new source of energy - renewable energy - based here," said Kazuyoshi Akaba, a vice minister of economy, trade and industry, after the turbine was turned on.

"It is the government's mission to ensure this project is a success," he said.
The project also highlights Japan's aspirations to sell its advanced energy technology around the globe.