Last modified: Thursday, January 17, 2008 12:55 AM EST EDITORIAL: Fresh breeze welcome on energy front Horseshoe Shoals in Nantucket Sound, proposed by the firm Cape Wind to become site of the largest wind farm in the country, will never churn breezes into the Attleboros. However, a favorable environmental impact statement released this week by the overseeing agency appointed by the federal government is cause for cautious optimism: This region's grid could eventually be blessed with an infusion of energy from a renewable source. The U.S. Minerals Management Service, with authority provided by Congress over Cape Wind and other such projects, has announced the outcome of its study of potential long-term impact on the environment and on tourism and navigation, including sailing: Any problems, the report suggests, would be fairly negligible and/or surmountable. That has to be good news for anyone trying to shoehorn energy costs into the household budget or who is concerned about the effects of coal and oil-fired power plants on the environment. It's noteworthy that the advancement of the wind farm proposal came with the unqualified backing of the Conservation Law Foundation, and we congratulate its members for their stance on this controversial measure, which is opposed former Gov. Mitt Romney and Sen. Edward M. Kennedy. The foundation, a leading environmental group, whose support blunts many of the arguments put forth by the plan's powerful opponents, issued the following statement on Tuesday from President Philip Warburg. "Cape Wind is one of the nation's most promising clean energy projects. When built, its 130 turbines will deliver clean energy to thousands of households, making an immediate impact in the region's efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and end our dependency on dirty fossil fuels." In average winds, Horseshoe Shoals could provide three quarters of the Cape and Islands electricity needs, Cape Wind claims. This week's report will be followed by time for public comment. In the absence of unforeseen roadblocks, it appears likely that Horseshoe Shoals will get the nod from the federal government this year or next. On the home front, the plan has the support of Gov. Deval Patrick, which bodes well for the project regarding the necessary state permits. We welcome this latest advancement and the opportunity it represents for turning Massachusetts into a global example of how humans can harness the wind to work wonders.