The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear two legal challenges against the 804-megawatt Vineyard Wind 1 offshore wind project, effectively allowing the development—backed by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners and Iberdrola—to proceed without further judicial delays.
The court’s decision, issued on May 5, leaves in place earlier rulings from the U.S. First Circuit Court of Appeals, which had dismissed both lawsuits in December 2024.
One case was brought by Rhode Island-based commercial fishing company Seafreeze Shoreside, which argued the project would harm its operations. The second was filed by the Responsible Offshore Development Alliance (RODA), a Washington, D.C.-based coalition representing fishing industry interests.
Both suits had received backing from groups opposed to offshore wind development but failed to convince the courts that the project violated federal regulations.
The dismissal marks a legal milestone for Vineyard Wind 1, the first large-scale offshore wind project approved in the United States. Located off the coast of Massachusetts, the project is expected to generate enough electricity to power over 400,000 homes once fully operational.
