House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi, who many on SouthCoast contend aided developer Jay Cashman's effort to sprinkle giant wind turbines across Buzzards Bay, went out on the water today to look at ground zero.

Returning to land, he said he remains committed to strongly pushing for renewable energy alternatives, including wind turbine farms, as the state faces an energy crisis.

But Rep. DiMasi acknowledged there needs to be a rigorous review process of any wind turbine proposals and, after touring the coastline off South Dartmouth, said that area might not be the best location.

He said any plans for turbines would have to be looked at in the context of making "sure to protect the environment."

He said energy is a significant business issue in the state, and wind turbines have the advantage of providing clean energy. It will be a "balancing test" to determine the right course of action, he said.

The powerful House speaker had been invited on the boat tour from Padanaram by Rep. John F. Quinn, D-Dartmouth. They were accompanied by others from the area's legislative delegation.

Rep. Quinn said the wind turbines could have a potentially serious impact on quality of life for those living along the water as well as impacts on shipping and fishing. He said he invited Rep. DiMasi to view the location because it is highly visible from land and could potentially cause noise and other problems.

Rep. Quinn said travel and tourism attracting people from around the world are among the top industries in the state and construction of unsightly wind turbine farms in Buzzards Bay could have serious economic consequences.

Rep. DiMasi has been accused of slipping a controversial amendment that critics said would open up Buzzards Bay to unlimited wind turbine development into a House energy bill late last year, with some legislators saying at the time they were unaware they had voted in favor of it.

While the amendment could benefit Boston developer Jay Cashman, a close personal friend of Rep. DiMasi, whose Patriot Renewables based in Quincy has proposed a plan for dozens of wind turbines to be built in Buzzards Bay, the speaker's office has denied it was done to help Mr. Cashman.

Opponents of the turbines have fought on several fronts, including arguing that bird life could be negatively affected.

Virtually everyone who accompanied Reps. DiMasi and Quinn returned from the boat trip not having changed their opinions.

Rep. Michael J. Rodrigues, D-Westport, said he favors the wind turbine plan. "I want to look out and see wind turbines, not oil tankers," he said.

Rep. William M. Straus, D-Mattapoisett, an opponent of the wind turbine development, said there remains substantial opposition to the plans and bird studies have supported the opposition's arguments.