Two related companies that own, operate, and develop solar electric generating facilities and the president and senior general counsel (also a part-time resident of Edgartown, Massachusetts) filed a lawsuit in the federal district court for the District of Massachusetts challenging the Vineyard Wind Project, an 800-megawatt offshore wind farm that would be the first commercial-scale offshore wind farm in the United States. The plaintiffs alleged that the defendants violated NEPA, the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The complaint’s allegations included that the final environmental impact statement (FEIS) failed to analyze the cumulative and lifecycle greenhouse gas impacts of offshore wind projects, and that the FEIS assumed, without analysis, that offshore wind generation would not itself add to global warming over the next 10 years and that offshore wind would displace natural gas generation and not other forms of renewable energy generation. The complaint also alleged that the FEIS did not take a hard look at warming generated by the project’s alteration of wind flow. The plaintiffs contended that the defendants should have evaluated a no-action alternative’s climate effects and effects on onshore renewable energy. In addition, the complaint alleged that the FEIS failed to properly analyze climate change effects on hurricanes that may impact the project and that the FEIS was “riddled with over-assessments of the purported benefits” of the project, including climate benefits. Another climate change-related allegation was an alleged failure to consider the impacts of the project and climate change on the food supply for the North Atlantic Right Whale.

Lawsuit challenging federal review and approvals for the Vineyard Wind offshore wind project.

Allco Renewable Energy Ltd. v. Haaland (Vineyard Wind)

<p>This entry was provided by the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law. Please see the terms of use for citation and licensing of third party data.</p>

Solar Company Challenged Federal Approvals for Offshore Wind Project

Filed

United States of America

Massachusetts

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Risk is the potential for adverse consequences resulting from the dynamic interplay between (climate-related) hazards, exposure, and vulnerability of affected human or ecological systems.

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Renewable energy means all forms of energy produced from renewable sources in a sustainable manner.

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Molecules in the atmosphere that play a key role in the greenhouse effect by trapping heat radiating from Earth’s surface.

Area of the economy in which actors engage in identical or related activities.

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The management and allocation of funds, assets and investments to meet various objectives

Either money or something of monetary value is transferred between two or more organisations, people or countries.

The release of heat-trapping gases, primarily from human activities such as burning fossil fuels, agriculture and industry.

A long-lived, colourless gas, chiefly emitted from fossil fuel combustion, deforestation and cement production.

A potent, short-lived greehouse gas, largely released from livestock, fossil fuel extraction and waste management.

Actions to reduce emissions in energy generation and supply.

Investment in electricity transmission and distribution systems capable of integrating renewable energy, supporting electrification and strengthening energy system resilience.

Extreme weather refers to events where a weather variable exceeds (or falls below) a threshold. Meaning it is significantly different from the average or usual weather pattern.

Terrestrial means "of the earth" and relates to the risks to ecological system that includes all living organisms and their interactions within land-based environments, such as forests, grasslands, and deserts.

Air pollution involves harmful contaminants in the air, affecting both indoor and outdoor environments. It can lead to health issues like respiratory diseases and heart problems, and climate impacts such as global warming. Pollutants can damage plants, trees, habitats, and water bodies like rivers and lakes.

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Heat extracted from the ground, usually in the form of hot water or steam and typically referred to as hydrothermal fluid.

Electrical energy generated from mechanical devices driven by flowing fresh water.

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Production of electricity and heat from solar irradiation.

Kinetic energy of airflow transformed into useful energy, mostly electrical energy.

Oil is a combustible liquid fossil fuel composed mainly of hydrocarbons, occurring as crude oil and refined into petroleum products such as petrol, diesel and kerosene.

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woman and genders outside of the gender binary

Any compulsory, unrequited payment to the government levied on corporations or individuals. This can be for environmental reasons, such as introducing a Carbon tax to set a price that emitters must pay for the greenhouse gases they emit.

Activities of industries that extract natural resources, such as mining, oil, and gas, for commercial use.

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This sector includes firms and individuals offering specialised expertise in fields such as law, accounting, consulting, science and engineering.

Activities involving the catching, processing, and selling of fish for food, recreation, and industry.

Climate change can have a range of impacts on technological system. Extreme weather events can cause infrastructure failures like power outages or damage to roads and bridges, as well as the impacts from waste following natural disasters. Human activities also cause technological impacts, such as the risks posed by oil spillage and leaks.

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Solar Company Challenged Federal Approvals for Offshore Wind Project

Policy instrument

Risk

Impacted group

Just transition

Renewable energy

Fossil fuel

Greenhouse gas

Economic sector

Finance