The Trump administration is taking yet another step to cancel another offshore wind project. On Wednesday, the government asked a federal court to pause a lawsuit to the New England Wind project while it reviews the developers’ permits.
The challenge, brought by the Nantucket group ACK for Whales, alleges that the Departments of the Interior and Commerce and sub-agencies violated the law, including the Marine Mammal Protection, Endangered Species, Outer Continental Shelf Lands, National Historic Preservation and Administrative Procedures acts, when they approved the Construction and Operations Plan (COP) for the New England Wind project.
The plan for up to 129 turbines — 20 miles from the Island — was approved in July of last year, though construction has yet to start.
ACK for Whales said in a statement Wednesday that the government seeks to entirely cancel the projects. Nantucket’s Inquirer and Mirror reported that the federal government intends to file a motion to vacate the project’s plan (COP) by Oct. 10.
The government’s “intent to seek remand and cancellation of the New England Wind approval signifies a critical inflection point: the federal agencies are now recognizing what Plaintiffs have long argued—that the project’s approvals are fatally flawed and violate numerous environmental statutes. The government’s decision to set aside these approvals is both an acknowledgment of those violations and a vindication of Plaintiffs’ rights, as they stood to suffer environmental, aesthetic, and economic harm from this project,” Thomas Stavola Jr., attorney for the plaintiffs in the case, said in a statement.
New England Wind, developed by Avangrid, is comprised of two projects — New England Wind 1 and 2. Avangrid, owned by Spain-based Iberdrola, is also part of a joint venture to develop Vineyard Wind 1.
The latest on New England Wind follows moves by the Trump administration to stall or halt other projects off the Island’s coast, Revolution Wind and SouthCoast Wind.
Time to begin the decommissioning processes and let the ocean start heal herself.
This whole thing was a predictable mess that is now being realized by many who were on the fence before.
Public opinion has taken a turn and majority of the people up and down the east coast are opposed.
Majority rules , isn’t that how democracy works?
Could you share your source for that polling?
It sounds more like gossip that the fossil fuel-funded anti-wind organization ” Green Oceans ” repeats
It might seem to you like the majority is opposed if you find yourself in an echo chamber of your own choosing. Go on reddit and read about these shut downs. Go on the comments section of boston globe, NY times, go onto the rhode island, CT, NY subreddits – any major publications. The vast majority support these projects. It’s just a few yokel locals that seem to squawk the loudest and think everyone agrees with them on the local rags.
Very true Jason- time to stop them all-i worked in the business for 40 years- nothing but billions in up front money-bankrupcy and a 25 year cleanup.
Your heading says…”That #*%@ Trump!!! Who is he “targeting” now???
Copy reads….Trump looking out for whales…..uh oh….never mind…..
I met a man last week charging up his Tesla. He said he was spending $850 per month driving to work in his diesel pickup. He bought a Tesla hoping it would be less expensive. He now spends about $100 per month charging his Tesla and he said the savings cover the car payment with money left over.
That’s why the oil/coal/nuclear barons want to end renewables. It’s all about money. So, if families could save $750 per month by driving an electric car, that’s many BILLIONS!
Jason, Jeffrey, and Connie: are you interested in saving money? If yes, join us by supporting renewable energy.
Thank you to Jason and Jeffrey. Trump is not targeting New England wind. Biden’s misspent billions of taxpayers dollars for wasteful wind that is not viable and will not solve our energy needs. Trump’s administration is saving billions by preventing any more damage from this harmful technology.
Fixed it for ya “Trump trying to save the whales but it’s Trump doing it so we have to oppose it”
This project has been nothing but a nightmare and my electric costs have gone up subsidizing it.
Unbelievable the amount of hit pieces published on this President who’s trying to save our ocean. We had a literal scandal factory in the office the last four years and not a single peep from this newspaper about any of it. The bias is astounding.
Ellis, trump is not trying to save our oceans or whales. He’s trying to punish wind turbine companies for putting them off the coast of Scotland.
Remember the whale that swam from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean last year because the Arctic ice melted so much? The ice melting is caused by burning fossil fuels, the chemicals get trapped in our atmosphere, reflecting the heat back to earth. How do we stop the collection of chemicals in our atmosphere? How do we stop the ice melting?
If we stop wind power from entering the grid, our electric prices will skyrocket.