THE PRYSMIAN GROUP is being coy about its plans to build an offshore wind cable manufacturing plant at Brayton Point in Somerset even though a small group of town residents say they are dropping plans to challenge the project in court.
The group of 12 residents unsuccessfully challenged the Department of Environmental Protection’s approval of an air quality permit for the project in a proceeding that wrapped up in late September. The residents had hinted they might take their challenge to court, but over the weekend they posted on Facebook that they would not be pursuing legal action.
“While we still believe MassDEP’s absurd ruling regarding diesel ship is just that.. absurd, we have decided that we can accomplish our ultimate goals of clean air, clean water, health & safety of the residents without appealing to the Superior Court,” said the Facebook post by Nicole McDonald of Save Our Bay Brayton Point.
With that last hurdle out of the way, Prysmian, based in Italy, is cleared to move forward with a project expected to cost more than $300 million and deliver hundreds of jobs. But the company gave no immediate indication it is moving forward.
A Prysmian spokesperson said the statement the company issued last week – “The project is proceeding as planned and Prysmian continues to pursue all procedural and legal steps” – remains the same.
Some speculate that Prysmian is waiting until after the election before making any announcement about the project. Republican Donald Trump has vowed to shut down the offshore wind industry if he is elected.
McDonald, in her post, indicated she had heard the rumors about Prysmian as well. “We don’t know what Prysmian will do but what we do know is that we will be here … with all of you … in our neighborhood …enforcing each and every condition we all fought so hard for,” she said.
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