Apr. 17--Massachusetts is blowing nothing but hot air unless it finds a better way to site new wind-energy projects, a new report says.

The report, conducted for the state by private environmental consultants, says Massachusetts has fallen "way behind" other regions of the country in developing wind energy.

While not mentioning the highly controversial Cape Wind project off of Cape Cod, the report said other wind-farm proposals are languishing in legal and zoning quagmires.

The state is suffering from lack of a "one-stop" regulatory agency for small renewable-energy projects, said the report by TRC Environmental Corp.

In contrast, the approval process for larger fossil-fuel power plants is much more efficient, the report said.

Last year, the Legislature passed the "Green Communities Act" that pushes for development of more renewable-energy sources and technologies.

The law creates a new "siting commission" -- and the state is hoping the new report can be used to help draft new rules and laws about wind- and other renewable-energy projects.

Ian Bowles, Gov. Deval Patrick's secretary of energy and environmental affairs, said finding an efficient way to site wind farms is "one of the remaining issues" that need to be addressed before the industry can take off in Massachusetts.

jfitz@bostonherald.com

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