Conservation Law Foundation Challenges Law On Wind Agreement

The Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) says that documents it filed would show that the amendments to the long-term contracting statute signed into law by Gov. Donald Carcieri, R-R.I., on June 16 are unconstitutional and that a second review of the Deepwater Wind/National Grid power purchase agreement by the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission (PUC) is unlawful.

In its filings, CLF moved to dismiss Docket #4185 and to stay the docket until the PUC has ruled on the questions raised by its motion to dismiss.

‘This highly unpopular law designed to push through one project that favors one developer is poised to trip up all legitimate projects that follow it,’ says Tricia K. Jedele, CLF vice president and director of its Rhode Island Advocacy Center.

CLF's motion to dismiss states that the amendments to Section 7 of the long-term contracting statute violate the constitutional doctrine of separation of powers, which requires that ‘all laws be made for the good of the whole.’

SOURCE: The Conservation Law Foundation