A federal judge has ordered the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to reconsider its approval of SouthCoast Wind Energy’s construction and operations plan for an offshore wind farm near Nantucket, USA. The decision follows a request from the Department of the Interior, supported by the Town and County of Nantucket, which brought the original legal challenge.
The request for remand was made after a presidential directive issued on 20 January 2025 instructed the Interior Department to review all existing offshore wind leases. BOEM has stated that its earlier environmental review may have understated or obscured potential impacts, and that a fresh assessment could lead to a revised decision, including approval, rejection, or approval with conditions.
SouthCoast Wind Energy opposed the remand, citing risks to project contracts and financing, but the court found no evidence of immediate or significant hardship. The case is now paused while BOEM conducts its review. The parties must file status updates every 60 days, with the first due by 3 January 2026.
