New Bedford Joins Lawsuit Against Proposed Windfarm

The City of New Bedford has joined in a lawsuit to block the construction of a wind farm approximately 11 miles of the coast of New York.

While saying he is supportive of offshore wind Mayor Jon Mitchell tells WBSM News that he can't support this project which is being constructed in area known as NY WEA at the expense of fishermen, and without their input.

"New Bedford wants to be a leader, and is a leader, in offshore wind just as it's long been a leader in commercial fishing," said Mitchell "for these two industries to co-exist successfully there needs to be some careful planning from every stakeholder and that just hasn't happened in this instance."

Mayor Mitchell says the area is one utilized by local scallopers and that if the wind farm is constructed it could have a major negative impact on fishermen from this region.

"Even a few trips to that area can add up to a lot of money so we just want to make sure that we are protecting the interests of scallopers in particular," said Mitchell.

The group of plaintiffs, includes the Rhode Island Fishermen's Alliance and the Town of Narragansett, R.I.have filed the lawsuit against the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and the Secretary of the Department of the Interior, Sally Jewell.

Mayor Mitchelll says that while the city has had a good working relationship with the bureau, in this case the agency moved ahead without getting input from all the impacted parties.

"Even though we have a very good working relationship with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, and have worked collaboratively with them, this is an instance where I think they went too far in proceeding with an ocean leasing without the input of fishermen who make their living there," said Mitchell.

Mitchell says the sale of LEASE OCS-A 0512 was conducted through a no-bid process which was different from how leases for the areas off the coast of Massachusetts were conducted.