Nantucket group appeals to the Supreme Court to end offshore wind projects and protect endangered whales

A Group of residents of Nantucket, Massachusetts The Americans are appealing to the Supreme Court in their challenge to the industrialization of parts of the Atlantic Ocean, where they say offshore wind farms – developed with the blessing of the federal government – ​​are endangering endangered whale species.

The group, Nantucket Residents Against Turbines, argues in its petition to the high court that “the federal government has missed its statutory obligations to protect endangered species that will be directly impacted by the construction of thousands of wind turbines in the Atlantic Ocean.”

They argue that federal agencies authorizing the lease of water areas to wind turbine companies have not included certain data in their analyzes of the benefits of offshore wind development.

“Despite the agencies’ express statutory duty to consider all ‘best available information’ without regard to the impacts of its actions on any threat or threat to the Threatened species and their habitatsThe National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) did not consider the cumulative impacts of other planned projects when authorizing and issuing permits for construction of the Vineyard Wind 1 project.

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The petition in the high court is the latest escalation in opposition to offshore wind development that was fast-tracked on the orders of the Biden-Harris administration, which has promoted a goal of deploying 30 gigawatts of offshore energy by 2030.

In pursuit of that goal, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which President Biden signed into law in 2022, created millions in tax breaks for green energy production deals.

Vineyard Wind, a joint venture between foreign entities AvanGrid and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, is the country’s largest offshore wind energy project off the New England coast – 15 miles off Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. The project was one of the first beneficiaries of the IRA.

Vineyard Wind claimed a “first-of-its-kind tax equity package” of $1.2 billion for commercial-scale offshore wind with three US-based banks, calling it “the largest single asset tax equity financing and financing for commercial-scale offshore wind First” said. Project.”

The petition states, “The Vineyard Wind 1 project is the first of a ‘coordinated move’ by the government to build approximately 30 wind turbine projects along the Atlantic seaboard, the construction of which would cover thousands of acres of federal submerged lands. There will be turbines.” State.

“Vineyard Wind LLC has constructed or partially constructed 47 of the 62 approved wind turbines, each turbine spanning one nautical mile. Once fully constructed, each turbine stands 853 feet above the water And it’s almost three times the size of the Statue of Liberty.”

The petition says the 47 turbines so far have “begun to adversely impact the Nantucket community, the marine environment, and marine species habitat.”

“Although not considered in any environmental impact analysis, problems with the turbines have also already begun. In July 2024, a large portion of a 350-foot fiberglass and PVC blade broke off from one of Vineyard Wind’s turbines. was broken up and dropped into the water, and pieces of it washed ashore and littered the beaches of Nantucket,” it notes.

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A North Atlantic right whale washed ashore in the waters off Cape Cod, Massachusetts. (Photo by Stan Grossfeld/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

The petition argues that at the time of the Vineyard Wind 1 Biological Opinion, BOEM had issued more than 25 offshore wind leases (on which one or more projects would be built). However, in the Biological Opinion, NMFS openly stated that it did not consider the cumulative impacts of those projects.

The petition argues that the North Atlantic right whale, which has been endangered for more than 100 years, “will bear the brunt of the federal government’s truncating of the environmental review process.”

“Despite the obvious impacts of building wind turbines on the North Atlantic right whale’s migratory route and now year-round habitat, the agencies only evaluated the impacts caused by the project and ignored the obvious impacts of all other projects planned in the plan. Gave the Atlantic Ocean,” it states.

The petition argues that the Supreme Court should hear this case to decide a circuit split between the Ninth and First Circuit decisions on this matter, which are in conflict with each other.

“Petitioners ask this Court to review the important issue presented in this petition to resolve the division between the circuits and to provide guidance to lower courts that may soon take up cases involving endangered species while seeking to achieve renewable energy objectives.” Will face similar issues regarding conservation,” he says.

There is an argument among the fishing industry that offshore wind production unfairly restricts their business. unprecedented whale deaths And criticism has increased in recent months over the Nantucket Blade disaster.

However, despite waning public support, government officials are still pushing to industrialize record areas of the Atlantic Ocean.

Earlier this month, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey announced the largest purchase of offshore wind in state history, advancing purchase agreements with Southcoast Wind, New England Wind and Vineyard Wind II.

“Offshore wind is our future, and it’s important that we build that future today,” said Rebecca Tepper, secretary of the state’s Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.

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A sign against wind turbines outside a home near Cisco Beach in Nantucket, Massachusetts on Monday, August 5, 2024. (Photographer: Scott Eisen/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

“By making major progress now with the projects, we are going to lead the country in the global race for developers, ships, materials and expertise,” he said.

On why wind energy production is not affected by environmental warnings and concerns, Anne Hawkins, executive director of the Responsible Offshore Development Alliance, says offshore wind companies and government agencies are working together.

“For too long, we have had the tail wagging the dog in terms of wind developers, energy companies and utilities, as well as investment banks and everyone else pursuing offshore wind from a private sector perspective that has an economic interest in investment, This goes far beyond the environmental viewpoint and consideration about offshore wind,” Hawkins said.

“It’s no surprise to me because this whole thing has been set up from the relationships to the staffing of the offshore wind companies. There’s a real revolving door with federal and state agencies and offshore wind companies. Set up the whole thing. Hawking said, “There’s a very strong capture of the oceans, so no matter what happens, they’re going to keep moving.”

A recent report from the Cato Institute found that while the offshore wind industry earns some of the largest tax breaks, its “high costs, which require substantial – and growing – taxpayer and ratepayer subsidies, will drive up electricity rates and the cost of electricity.” Will reduce consumption.”

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The report also warns of economic losses from offshore wind.

“It is impossible for a system of green energy tax credits and other subsidies to increase economic growth,” the report concluded. ,

“Forcing consumers and taxpayers to subsidize offshore wind jobs at a cost of several million dollars per job Each year – more than what workers would be paid – cannot increase overall economic growth and employment,” it said.

Fox News Digital contacted BOEM and NOAA but did not receive a response by publication deadline.