Offshore Wind Wire

The Rhode Island attorney general, an environmental nonprofit and an industry partnership appealed the recent approval of a power purchase agreement for the Deepwater Wind project near Block Island, the Providence Journal reported Tuesday.

Attorney General Patrick Lynch and the Conservation Law Foundation appealed the decision by the Public Utilities Commission to the Supreme Court, although it’s not clear if the state’s highest judicial body will agree to hear the appeals, the Journal reported.  A joint appeal was also filed Monday by Toray Plastics America and Polytop Corp. — two large manufactures based in the state.

The state attorney general typically defends the Commission’s rulings, but in this appeal Gov. Donald Carcieri will be forced to find separate counsel.

“The governor believes we have a responsibility to defend the constitutionality of the law. We believe the appeal is without merit,” said Amy Kempe, spokeswoman for Carcieri.

Resolutions Might Not Stop NYPA Offshore Development

Resolutions from legislators in several New York counties might not stop the New York Power Authority from developing offshore wind in those areas, according to a blog posting in the Rochester City Newspaper.

The NYPA has made clear they will not develop an offshore wind project over local community opposition but they have not defined that opposition, the posting said.