The controversial proposal for a wind farm off the coast of Jones Beach by the Long Island Power Authority and FPL Energy will cost a projected $697 million, double the original estimate, New 12 Long Island has learned.

In a letter to LIPA President and CEO Richard Kessel dated June 25, FPL Senior Vice President Mike O'Sullivan said projected costs skyrocketed as a result of "significant inflationary pressures" since FPL's original proposal in 2003, which pegged the wind farm's price tag at $356 million.

The disclosure comes following repeated Freedom of Information Law requests for data on the project's costs from News 12 Long Island.

Under the current plan, FPL would build 40 wind turbines producing a total of 140 megawatts of energy. The wind farm would be located about 3 ½ miles off the coast between Jones Beach State Park and Robert Moses State Park. LIPA says it would be one of the largest renewable projects in the state.

In his letter to Kessel, FPL's O'Sullivan cited the combination of higher equipment, labor and construction costs, among other factors. Some of those costs have doubled, and in some cases tripled, over the last four years, he said.

In a statement, LIPA said it has commissioned a study to look at the long-term cost of the project, including the costs of fuel and carbon offsets that would be associated with a fossil-fuel plant.

"That study will be important in determining how to proceed with the Offshore Wind Project," the statement said.