Animal Welfare Institute v. Beech Ridge Energy, 675 F. Supp. 2d 540 (D. Md. 2009)
Case Summary:
A coalition of conservation organizations and concerned citizens brought this action challenging Invenergy’s Beech Ridge wind project in West Virginia on Endangered Species Act grounds. The lawsuit contended that the project’s operation would unlawfully take federally endangered Indiana bats by killing, injuring, and otherwise harming members of the species, and the Court sustained our position.
Plaintiffs: Animal Welfare Institute, Mountain Communities for Responsible Energy, and David G. Cowan
Court: United States District Court for the District of Maryland
Status:
6/10/09 - Complaint filed in U.S. District Court, District of Mayland, Southern Division
7/10/09 - Plaintiffs Move for a Preliminary Injunction to halt construction, turbine erection, and operation of the project
7/30/09 - The court consolidates the hearing on Plaintiffs Motion for Preliminary Injunction with a trial on the merits.
10/21/09 - Trial (Day 1)
10/22/09 - Trial (Day 2)
10/23/09 - Trial (Day 3)
10/29/09 - Trial (Day 4)
12/8/09 - A decision is entered in favor of Plaintiffs. The defendants are ordered to halt construction and operation of the wind protect until they have applied for and recieve an incidential take permit from the Fish and Wildlife Service