The 468MW Cape Wind offshore project suffered another blow this week as a US federal appeals court reversed lower court rulings that favored the wind farm.
Opponents had appealed a lower court decision that found the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s environmental impact statement complied with the National Environmental Policy Act.
The lower court had also agreed that the Fish and Wildlife Service’s incidental take statement complied with the Endangered Species Act.
A three-judge panel this week overturned the decisions and Cape Wind will have to redo some of the regulatory processes.
Developer Energy Management proposes to build 130 turbines in Nantucket Sound off Massachusetts, however, the project has stalled since losing power purchase agreements in early 2015.
The project has faced more than two dozen lawsuits.
The latest setback comes as Massachusetts lawmakers debate a comprehensive energy bill.
The Senate last week unanimously passed a bill that requires utilities to buy 2GW of offshore wind energy and 1.5GW from other renewable energy sources, including hydropower.
Earlier in June, the House passed legislation that would establish a goal of 1.2GW of offshore wind energy and 1.2GW of large-scale hydroelectricity.
The Senate bill would allow Cape Wind to compete for a contract, but the House version excludes the project.
Legislators are working to resolve differences in the two bills before the legislative session ends on 31 July.
Image: impression of Cape Wind project (Cape Wind)
