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Lawsuit challenges approval of 150MW Nevada wind project

Another major renewable energy project granted a “fast track” approval by the Department of the Interior is being challenged by environmental and Native American groups that say the federal agency is shirking its responsibility to protect wildlife and cultural resources as it rushes reviews.

1 February 2011 1:45 GMT Updated 26 September 2016 15:11 GMT

By Benjamin Romano

A Pattern Energy subsidiary won approval from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) last autumn to build the 75-turbine, 150MW Spring Valley Wind project on about 31sq km of public land in eastern Nevada.

The Western Watersheds Project (WWP), Center for Biological Diversity and three federally recognized Native American tribes brought suit last week against the BLM, a sub-agency of the Department of the Interior, seeking to halt construction of the project – which they say is “expected to begin imminently” – and reverse the approval until a new environmental impact statement is completed.

They

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