Opponents of the 30 MW Block Island Wind Farm have filed a case in federal court seeking to overturn Deepwater Wind's power contract with utility National Grid.
The complaint was filed Aug. 14 by Benjamin Riggs, Laurence Ehrhardt and the Rhode Island Manufacturers Association (RIMA). Riggs and Ehrhardt are long-standing opponents of the offshore wind farm.
At issue is Deepwater's power purchase agreement (PPA) with National Grid, which some have argued will increase power costs. In the past, manufacturer Toray Plastics tried unsuccessfully to have the contract voided by claiming that the PPA would increase power costs. The manufacturer – a member of RIMA – is the single largest user of electricity in the state.
Nonetheless, Providence, R.I.-based Deepwater Wind dismissed the suit.
‘This complaint is just as baseless as the last several complaints filed by Mr. Riggs that were quickly and summarily rejected by the proper authorities,’ says Jeff Grybowski, CEO of Deepwater Wind. ‘The project is proceeding at full speed.’
