Construction on the 95%-complete Vineyard Wind 1 offshore wind farm can resume following a decision by the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts. The court approved the continuation of full activities in the Vineyard Wind lease area on the US Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).
This is the fourth of five US offshore wind projects halted that are now allowed to continue. Ørsted’s Sunrise Wind remains suspended, with a hearing scheduled for February 2.
Vineyard Wind, a partnership between Avangrid and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), challenged the suspension order on January 15. The court’s ruling pauses the order while legal proceedings continue.
“Vineyard Wind will collaborate with contractors, the federal government, and stakeholders to safely restart activities, continuing to provide new power to New England,” stated the developer on January 27.
Vineyard Wind’s complaint noted that only one full turbine and blade replacements on ten turbines remain, along with commissioning the final 18 turbines. The US Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) issued a stop-work order, affecting the project’s timeline to be completed by March 31 and deliver full capacity to the state’s grid.
The judge granted the stay against the suspension and cited the order as “likely arbitrary and capricious.” Issues raised pertained to operations, not construction, and continuing the suspension could harm the project, according to the judge. The Oceantic Network noted that Vineyard Wind 1’s supply chain spans 37 states, generating over USD 1.6 billion in investments.
“Vineyard Wind is crucial for Massachusetts’ grid and the regional grid serving millions of residents, especially in winter. Offshore wind stabilizes rising energy costs for communities relying on peaker plants,” said Liz Burdock, CEO of Oceantic Network.
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Original Story at www.offshorewind.biz