U.S. Sen. Scott Brown yesterday joined the growing chorus of critics calling for a federal probe into Cape Wind, saying officials have been aware of safety concerns "forever" and raising questions about whether the hotly debated Nantucket Sound project was born from "backroom deals."

"If there's any inference of any backroom deals ... there should be an independent investigation to verify if those things are true," Brown told the Herald, brushing off Obama administration claims that a probe would be too costly.

"Sometimes you have to focus on the solution and getting the answers," Brown said.... [continue via Web link]