A US federal judge has dismissed a case against Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) and Avangrid’s 800MW Vineyard Wind project over claims it endangered the North American right whale.
Advocacy group Nantucket Residents Against Turbines filed a motion at the start of the year against Federal Government agencies and personnel over claims that the environmental approvals for Vineyard Wind violate the Endangered Species Act.
The group sought to have the project’s Final Environmental Impact Statements nullified and an injunction imposed on construction.
However, Judge Indira Talwani ruled that the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) took the North American right whale into account and designed measures to protect the endangered species.
These include imposing seasonal restrictions on construction work, requiring whale spotters and regulating pile driving.
Vineyard Offshore CEO Klaus Moeller said: “We’re pleased the court has acknowledged the rigorous and thorough administrative review that our project underwent over the last many years. We remain committed to working with all stakeholders so that we can continue to set the highest possible standards on this first in the nation project.”