Brazil's federal prosecutor's office, known as MPF, has obtained a preliminary injunction to suspend the installation of a 240-megawatt (MW) wind farm in Maranhao state. This urgent and provisional order halts the preliminary and installation licensing processes for the project.
The injunction was sought through a public civil action aimed at stopping the wind farm, which is planned to consist of 40 turbines in the town of Arpoador, located in the Parnaiba Delta Environmental Protection Area (APA).
The lawsuit argues that the project site is designated as a Community Use Zone (Zuco), where large-scale industrial activities, including wind power generation, are prohibited.
The 8th Federal Court of Maranhao ruled that the environmental licenses granted for the wind farm were potentially illegal, as they were issued without an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA/RIMA).
Additionally, the installation of the wind farm lacked proper authorization from the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio). The court's decision mandates that the project's licensing be regularized before any further action can proceed.
