Ocean Winds intends to “vigorously defend” its permits in court after the Trump administration indicated it is reviewing the construction and operations plan for the 2400MW SouthCoast Wind project off Massachusetts.
In a statement, the developer said: “Stable permitting for American infrastructure projects should be of top concern for anyone who wants to see continued investment in the United States.
“Ocean Winds intends to vigorously defend our permits in federal court.”
The developer also said that the COP was approved by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management following what it called a “rigorous four-year review”.
“This review reflected an extensive public process that incorporated feedback from federal and state government agencies, commercial ocean users, Tribal Nations, and many other stakeholders,” the developer said.
US offshore wind trade group Oceantic Network CEO Liz Burdock said in her own statement: “Yesterday’s federal action remanding SouthCoast Wind’s Construction and Operations Plan undermines a critical source of American-made energy at a time when New England needs it most.
“Revoking approval at this late stage, after years of careful permitting, environmental review, and private investment, threatens to stall broader American energy deployment, increase electric bills for millions of businesses and families, jeopardize thousands of jobs, and damage our country’s credibility on the global stage.”
Oceantic also pointed to the investments SouthCoast Wind had expected to make across the US including $2bn for the US maritime industry, $500m in US shipbuilding, and $300m in port infrastructure.
Altogether SouthCoast Wind has planned to spend over $6bn over the course of the project.