The U.S. Department of the Interior has informed a federal court that it is reassessing the construction and operations plan (COP) for the proposed 2,400-megawatt SouthCoast Wind project off the coast of Massachusetts.
In a court filing related to a separate legal challenge brought by the town of Nantucket, the department said the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is “reviewing its approvals associated with the Project and has determined, based on its review to date, that it wishes to reconsider its COP approval.”
The COP, approved in early 2024 during the final days of the Biden administration, represents the final federal permit required before construction of an offshore wind project in U.S. waters can begin. The SouthCoast Wind plan allows for the installation of up to 141 turbines, with a landfall connection in Massachusetts.
The project, developed by Ocean Winds, was awarded power contracts for 1,087MW by Massachusetts and an additional 200MW by Rhode Island in September 2024.
The Interior Department has requested a stay in the Nantucket case, arguing that if the COP approval is ultimately withdrawn, the legal challenge may no longer be necessary.
The review introduces fresh uncertainty for one of the largest offshore wind projects in the U.S., which has faced scrutiny from local stakeholders and environmental groups.
SouthCoast Wind has not commented publicly on the ongoing review.
