Vineyard Wind is seeking to overturn a local authority’s refusal to permit transmission cables for the 800MW Vineyard offshore wind farm in the US state of Massachusetts.
The developer said it will seek a “superseding order” from the state Department of Environmental Protection “to overturn denial of the project’s application before the Edgartown Conservation Commission”.
The Avangrid and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners joint venture said the commission’s decision last week was “flawed” and “inconsistent with the evidence before it”.
Chief development officer Erich Stephens said the ruling is also “in contrast to the conclusions of many other regulatory authorities” that have approved the proejct.
“Vineyard Wind unfortunately has no choice but to request a superseding order from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection,” he said.
“Vineyard Wind always places a priority on working with local communities, and was fully responsive to all information requests received from the Edgartown Conservation Commission.”
Vineyard said it provided the commission with a “detailed” and “comprehensive” filing and responded to all additional queries.
“Vineyard Wind is confident that a thoughtful deliberation of the wealth of available scientific information regarding the project will convince the DEP to issue an order of conditions that ensures local environmental protections while advancing a project that is poised to make a difference in an era of global climate crisis that is impacting New England’s shoreline and fisheries,” added Stephens.
Vineyard Wind, which is to feature MHI Vestas 9.5MW turbines, is targeting 2021 for commissioning.