R.I. Supreme Court Calls Offshore Wind Opponents to Prove Their Legal Standing (USA)

The R.I. Supreme Court is asking those suing to stop a wind farm proposed off Block Island to prove they have legal standing to bring the case.

In an order issued Monday, the court directed the Conservation Law Foundation, Toray Plastics (America) and Polytop Corp. to file briefs defending their legal standing no later than March 10. The three are appealing a decision by the R.I. Public Utilities Commission to approve a contract between National Grid and wind farm developer Deepwater Wind.

Courts spokesman Craig Berke said such a request by the justices “doesn’t happen every day but it does come up from time to time.”

If the justices allow the case to precede, the court said it would schedule oral arguments in May.

Deepwater Wind has been pushing to bring its wind farm of six to eight turbines online by the end of 2012. However, Chief Development Officer Paul Rich told Providence Business News earlier this year that the court case could force the company to postpone that date.

By Chris Barrett (pbn)

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Source: pbn, February 23, 2011