Offshore Wind: A Court Win, But the Fight Is Far From Over This week, WBOC published an article announcing that a federal judge denied US Wind’s request for a preliminary injunction. Ocean City quickly declared the ruling a “complete victory,” and in this narrow sense, they are right. But while this decision is an important step, it is not the end of the battle over US Wind’s offshore project. The permit to build offshore wind turbines off the coast of Fenwick Island and Ocean City is still valid, the cables may come ashore beginning January 31 under SB 159, and many legal uncertainties remain. To understand what truly happened, we need to look closely at the ruling, the lawsuit, and what the federal government is doing behind the scenes. US Wind Still Holds a Valid Federal Permit Despite the dramatic headlines, nothing in the ruling revoked or suspended US Wind’s Construction and Operations Plan (COP). That federal permit remains fully in effect. Legally, once SB 159 takes effect at the end of January, US Wind will be authorized to bring its cables ashore in Delaware. However, both Sussex County Council and the Town of Fenwick Island have voted to file lawsuits challenging SB 159, arguing that the law unlawfully overrides local zoning authority. If either lawsuit succeeds, cable construction could then be halted even after January 31. But as of now, the recent injunction ruling did not stop the project.