PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — A federal judge in Rhode Island has dismissed a lawsuit brought over the nation's first offshore wind farm.
The lawsuit was filed last year by plaintiffs including the Rhode Island Manufacturers Association. It argued utility National Grid's deal approved in 2010 to buy power from the wind farm violated federal law and would result in a significant increase to their electric bills. It sought to block the power purchase agreement.
The five-turbine wind farm is 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. Deepwater had called the complaint baseless.
U.S. District Judge William Smith on July 7 found the lawsuit was filed after the statute of limitations had expired.
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This story has been corrected to show the decision was July 7, not last week.