US developer Apex Clean Energy is weighing its options after a federal court overturned permits for the 200MW Searchlight wind project in southeast Nevada.
US district court judge Miranda Du found that environmental approvals by the Bureau of Land Management and the US Fish and Wildlife Service inadequately examined the impacts on wildlife, including golden eagles, desert tortoises and bats.
“We are currently evaluating our options to determine next steps,” said Apex spokesperson Dahvi Wilson.
The Virginia-based developer proposes to build up to 87 2.3MW turbines on 19,000 acres of public land in Clark County in the Mojave Desert.
The BLM approved the project in 2013, but the decision was appealed.
In February 2015, judge Du ordered the bureau and FSW to prepare a supplemental environmental impact statement to more fully address wildlife impacts.
In response to a motion by plaintiffs, the judge has voided the record of decision, environmental impact statement, biological opinion and right of way grant.
Image: Morgue File
