The Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), along with a number of other tribal nations and fishing groups, filed two new petitions Wednesday that call for the immediate suspension of all offshore wind projects in the Northeast pending a federal reassessment.
The petitions were filed with multiple federal agencies — the U.S. departments of the Interior, Transportation, Defense, and Homeland Security, Bureau of Indian Affairs, National Park Service, U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force — and ask for the suspension of South Fork Wind, SouthCoast Wind, Sunrise Wind, Vineyard Wind, Empire Wind, and the New England Wind projects, many of which are off the Vineyard.
The filings come in the days following the latest blow to the industry when the Trump administration ordered the halt of Revolution Wind, a nearly completed wind project 12 miles southwest of Aquinnah. A press release Wednesday from the tribe and other groups involved cites concerns of “unprecedented national security risks, violations of federal trust responsibilities to tribal nations, and irreparable harm to historic and cultural resources” as reasons to suspend all offshore wind activities off the Northeast coast. Risk to national security interests, though unspecific, was also cited by the Trump administration as reason to issue the stop-work order for Revolution Wind.
The Wampanoag and three other tribes argue that they weren’t consulted meaningfully by the federal government on either national security issues or sovereignty, safety, and self-determination concerns, and therefore the government breached federal trust responsibility and violated obligations under the Constitution, National Historic Preservation Act, and National Environmental Policy Act.
Other parties in the petitions include Green Oceans, Shinnecock Nation, Narragansett Tribe, Unkechaug Nation, ACK4Whales, Responsible Offshore Alliance Development Alliance, Long Island Commercial Fishing Association, Fishermen Against Offshore Wind, Rhode Island Commercial Fishing Association, Save the East Coast, Protect Our Coast Long Island NY, Save Our Brayton Point, Save Greater Dowses Beach, Protect Our Westport Waters, and the Energy Council of Rhode Island.
“We greatly appreciate the federal government’s actions to date, but we cannot stop here. These projects continue to threaten our ocean, our economy, and even America’s national defense,” Dr. Lisa Quattrocki Knight, president and co-founder of Green Oceans, said. “Green Oceans will keep challenging their legality until justice is served, and we urge the immediate suspension of all projects on the Outer Continental Shelf before irreversible damage occurs.”
The petitions ask for “a comprehensive, interagency defense and safety reassessment.”
Editor’s note: Previous version said “nine federal agencies.”
I love it when liberals who espouse the great contributions of Wampanoag, run into opposition on the question of wind farms. And then we have a post lamenting misinformation which in itself is a narrative of misinformation. Seems like many Libs on MV are becoming divided. Could it happen on the Gaza question?
Andy– I’m not quite sure what you are talking about other than your dislike for liberals. If you were paying attention over the past few decades, you would have noticed that “liberals” were opposed to a tribe run casino. There was also mild opposition to their shellfish farm, which resulted in a pretty spectacular failure. There was also opposition from liberals when they decided they did not have to abide by local zoning laws and building codes. And there was some pushback when they dictated that only companies that had at least 1/3 of their employees who were 1/3 native American could even go so far as to bid on their tribal housing project, Don’t get me wrong, I for one support the tribe and most of their endeavors. I supported the name change to Aquinnah and refer to them as native Americans. However, I will not hesitate to share my opinion when I think they are doing something that I disagree with. Your implication that liberals will just fall in line like trump supporters at a Nurnberg style rally is ludicrous. I think they are wrong on this one, and I feel no conflict in stating it.
Thank you to Green Oceans for working closely with these 4 Tribes to help stop Off Shore Wind. Thank you Wampanoag Tribe for standing strong against this OSW development disaster!
Green Oceans is a political organization funded by the Fossil fuel companies. When you climb into bed with them, you get up dirty and covered in oil. Always check who you are associating with
Your comment is libelous. Green Oceans is a nonprofit 501c3 organization.
https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/dl/FinalLetter_92-1677626_GREENOCEANS_05232023_00.pdf
This designation prevents the organization from doing political activities. If it was a political organization, a different IRS designation would be required.
Why don’t you check out the rigorous research on its website? This is a well respected organization with tireless leadership.
“The petitions were filed with nine federal agencies”, however your article show only EIGHT federal agencies.
Green Oceans and every petitioner must call for immediate DEFUNDING OFFSHORE WIND instead of suspension. The corporations and private investors that sold must be held accountable for dismantling these turbine and remediating the ocean.
Biden’s dismal presidency wasted hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars for GREEN ENERGY and failed to research the benefits and full disadvantages of this unreasonable and unreliable source of renewable.
This is a politically motivated effort, not an environmental protection effort.
The wind turbines provide new fishing grounds around the turbine footings.
The energy generated from wind turbines will mitigate some of the damage caused by burning fossil fuels.
I’m my view, the tribes, the fishermen, and other organizations have taken the opposite approach than is for their best interests. Please, all of you, reconsider which side you’re on.
History will show that the wind turbines are good for all of us.
Suzanne Moore is correct. Mary please read her comment above.
hope you were misquoted-thewind turbines are disturbing the fishing grounds and HURTING OUR FISHING GROUNDS- THEY WERE RECOVERING FROM JAPANESE AND RUSSIAN FACTORY SHIPS OVERFISHING OUR WATERS AND THIS WAS SHOVED DOWN OUR THROATS OUR GOVERNMENT LET IT HAPPEN OUR TOWN LET IT HAPPEN-GERRY STUDDS WAS TOO BUSY WITHYOUNG MOIST PAGES IN DC HE DID NOTHING PERIOD – BARNES TRUCKS HAULED FISH TO NYC-FULTON MKT and CRONIGS GROCERIES-back THE IGAandMERCIERS IN EDGARTOWN [richard o’niel anddonald bagnall were a big part of that era GREAT LOSS WHEN THE PACKING HOUSE CLOSED
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