The WindAction Group (www.windAction.org)
Facts, analysis, exposure to industrial wind energy's real impacts
Green development threatens two R.I. municipalities and individual local officials with huge lawsuits
Mark DePasquale, founder of Green Development LLC, often turns to legal action when things don’t fall his way.
Articles filed under Legal from Rhode Island
Solar developer to file $285 million lawsuit against Coventry, Exeter
A Rhode Island renewable energy developer says it plans to sue the towns of Coventry and Exeter for a total of about $285 million, saying the corporation has been illegally deprived of its rights to develop solar projects in those towns.
Judge upholds Coventry’s denial of green development project (solar)
Despite the fact the project was denied, DePasquale began prepping the two properties for the installation of solar arrays anyway. In early June, the Department of Planning & Development issued a cease-and-desist order for DePasquale’s unauthorized solar installation. A week later, on June 10, the town issued a finalized order, requiring that DePasquale remove all pilings and cease all work on the property except for seeding, loaming, and related landscape clean-up activities.
Unauthorized Coventry solar project ordered to stop work
The Department of Planning & Development recently issued a cease-and-desist order to an unauthorized solar installation off Carr’s Trail. The June 4 notice issued to 394 Carr’s Realty LLC and WED Coventry Seven LLC — a subsidiary of North Kingstown-based Green Development LLC, formerly Wind Energy Development LLC, founded by Mark DePasquale — claims a recent site inspection by two members of the Department of Planning & Development found “hundreds of piles had been driven into the ground commencing construction of a proposed solar generating facility that had been denied development plan approval by the Coventry Planning Commission” two years ago.
Judge reverses zoning board’s OK of solar farm in Portsmouth
Judge Brian Van Couyghen reversed the board’s approval of a special-use permit for the 2.9-megawatt solar photovoltaic farm on 8 acres finding that it represented a manufacturing use that is not allowed in residential zones. Van Couyghen cited a previous case in which the state Supreme Court found that wind turbines represented a manufacturer because they are used for the sole purpose of transforming raw materials, “namely wind — into a finished product — namely electricity.”
Turbine developer files suit against N.S. Town Council
The North Kingstown company that wants to build a towering wind turbine on Old Smithfield Road has filed suit in Superior Court against the Town Council, saying officials unlawfully imposed a moratorium on such structures after its application was already in play.
Judge denies Narragansett tribe's bid to suspend construction of cable for wind farm
On April 5, National Grid notified the tribe that construction crews had inadvertently dug up cultural artifacts while making excavations for the cable. Michael De Luca, an attorney for the tribe, claimed that the disturbances happened before that day and that the artifacts involved included vessels and tools.
B.I. Wind Farm project sees first on-island activity; New complaint filed against project
Despite some unexpected events, such as repairs to a foundation and a complaint that was filed in a Providence U.S. District Court, the Block Island Wind Farm project is moving ahead, according to Deepwater Wind's Chief Executive Officer.
Opponents file challenge to Block Island wind farm in federal court
Opponents to the offshore wind farm under construction near Block Island have filed a case in federal court seeking to overturn a critical agreement under which developer Deepwater Wind will sell power to utility National Grid.
R.I. Supreme Court will not hear appeal to Deepwater Wind permit
Shields filed a complaint in Superior Court last July that alleged that a subcommittee of the state Coastal Resources Management Council showed bias toward Deepwater during hearings on the Providence-based company’s proposal last February.
Shields files lawsuit against CRMC, Deepwater Wind
According to Shield’s complaint, the subcommittee violated its own regulations whenChair Anne Livingston and council member Donald Gomez repeatedly interrupted Shields’ testimony in opposition to the project, claiming that his discussion of the financial impacts were not relevant or within their jurisdiction.
Town Council appeals wind turbine decision
Not long after the five council members were sworn in by state, the members retreated into a 15-minute executive session. ...After returning, they voted unanimously to authorize Town Solicitor Peter Ruggerio to file an appeal of the Zoning Board of Review's decision last week allowing the [turbine] plan to go forward.