Judge tosses lawsuit over nation’s 1st offshore wind farm

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit brought over the nation’s first offshore wind farm.

The lawsuit was filed in 2015 by plaintiffs including the Rhode Island Manufacturers Association and others. It argued that utility National Grid’s deal approved in 2010 to purchase power from the nation’s first offshore wind farm violated federal law and would result in a significant increase to their electric bills.

The five-turbine wind farm is currently being constructed by Deepwater Wind just offshore from Rhode Island’s Block Island.

The manufacturers’ group sued National Grid, Deepwater Wind and members of the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission.

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U.S. District Judge William Smith last week found the lawsuit was filed after the statute of limitations had expired and dismissed it.