Judge Clears Way for $4.5B Wind Farm Off Massachusetts

A nearly completed wind farm off the coast of Martha's Vineyard can resume construction after a federal judge struck down a government order that had frozen the $4.5 billion project just before Christmas.

Judge Brian Murphy issued a preliminary injunction Tuesday allowing developers of Vineyard Wind to restart work on the project, which is already 95 percent complete and sending some power to homes across Massachusetts. When finished, the wind farm will generate enough electricity to power more than 400,000 homes and businesses in the state.

The Trump administration had ordered construction to halt on December 22, citing national security concerns based on a classified Defense Department report. Judge Murphy reviewed the classified report and found the government failed to adequately explain or justify stopping the project.

At the time work stopped, contractors had already installed 61 of 62 turbines. The developers, Avangrid and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, were losing around $2 million each day during the shutdown.

The ruling represents the fourth legal setback for federal efforts to halt offshore wind development. Federal judges have also allowed three other projects to resume construction: Revolution Wind off Rhode Island, Empire Wind off New York, and Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind off Virginia.

The Ripple Effect

The project has already proven its value during extreme weather. When a severe winter storm hammered New England over the weekend, the turbines already spinning at Vineyard Wind converted harsh winds into critical power supplies for Massachusetts residents.

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey celebrated the ruling as protecting thousands of well-paying jobs supported by the wind farm. The project represents a major step forward for clean energy infrastructure along the East Coast.

Craig Gilvarg, a spokesman for Vineyard Wind, said developers will work to safely restart construction. The timing couldn't be better for the state's energy needs as winter demand continues.

The offshore wind industry is creating a new generation of renewable energy jobs while helping communities transition away from fossil fuels.