ACK For Whales, a Nantucket-based offshore wind-energy opposition group, has launched a new challenge against two wind farms proposed in the open ocean 24 miles southwest of Nantucket. The group is petitioning the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to review Clean Air Act permits issued for New England Wind 1 and 2. The permits were originally issued without assessing potential blade failure and repair emissions, which could lead to temporary increases in pollutants. ACK For Whales claims that the cumulative effects of vessel emissions and pile driving were not adequately considered and modeled.
The group’s challenge is similar to one filed by an offshore wind opposition group in New Jersey, which involved a planned wind farm off the coast of New Jersey. In that case, a permit was revoked by a federal court and sent back to the EPA for further review. The Biden administration has made offshore wind a core part of its energy plans, while the Trump administration has taken a more adversarial stance.
ACK For Whales’ challenge, however, is seen by some as motivated by anti-wind interests rather than legitimate concerns about air-quality impacts. A representative from the Conservation Law Foundation, an environmental-advocacy organization, questioned the timing and motivation behind the challenge, suggesting that it may be aimed at appealing to an anti-wind federal administration rather than addressing legitimate concerns.
The New England Wind 1 and 2 project has been approved for construction, with a planned start date in late 2025 and completion in 2029. The project is designed to generate clean renewable energy and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. However, opponents claim that it will have negative impacts on the environment and local communities. The outcome of ACK For Whales’ challenge, which is still pending, may have significant implications for the future of offshore wind energy in the United States.