Pro Bono Team Obtains South Fork Wind Farm Cable Approval

Arnold & Porter and the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia University worked with citizen group Wind With Wind (WWW) to obtain a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need for a transmission cable needed to connect the South Fork Wind Farm to the electric grid in East Hampton, New York. This marks a historic step since it puts New York State and East Hampton in a leadership role for offshore wind energy with SFW serving as the foundation of a more sustainable and resilient future. When the South Fork Wind Farm becomes operational it will be the largest offshore wind farm in the country, and the first in New York.

Arnold & Porter senior associate Laura Cottingham advised WWW. As part of the firm's participation in the Lawyers for a Sustainable Economy initiative, Cottingham was seconded half-time to the Sabin Center. She helped both organizations jointly launch the Renewable Energy Legal Defense Initiative, which provides pro bono litigation assistance to community groups and individuals supporting renewable energy resources that are facing local opposition. Senior counsel Michael Gerrard is also Director at the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law.