US seeks court order to halt 150-MW Enel wind project

Dec 5, 2014 - US federal authorities are seeking a court order to immediately stop the construction of the 150-MW Osage wind project in Oklahoma by Italian firm Enel Green Power (BIT:EGPW), the Tulsa World said Thursday.

The preliminary injunction request was filed by federal officials on Tuesday on allegations that the company is conducting unauthorised mining activities. According to Osage County’s regulations, the minerals beneath the project site are owned by the Osage Nation, while the developer has the right only for an “incidental” use of up to 5,000 cubic yards of rock without regulatory approval. Enel Green Power has already exceeded that limit, according to the preliminary injunction.

The 150-MW wind farm is being installed on private land and will have around 90 turbines. Federal authorities have estimated that turbine construction will remove over 60,000 cubic yards of limestone and other rocks that belong to the tribe.

Enel Green Power is arguing that the turbine foundation works are not considered to be mining activity, according to the report. The developer was previously asked to halt construction works until it receives the needed Osage Nation permit, but it did not, which led to a lawsuit.

In April Enel Green Power, through its affiliate TradeWind Energy Inc, bought the Osage wind project from Irish renewable energy investor NTR Plc.

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