Cape May-based Fishermen's Energy is one step closer toward its goal of building the nation's first offshore wind farm off the coast of Atlantic City.

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The company has received a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; the final permit needed to begin building.

A spokesman for the agency says the company hasn't yet received approval from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities.

The board is still mulling whether to require utilities to purchase electricity from the company. Wind energy is generally more expensive than other sources.

The company has said it plans to put in five or six turbines 2.8 miles off the coast in a $200 million, 25-megawatt project intended to provide enough electricity to power 10,000 homes.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

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