RIDEM issued Deepwater with a water quality certificate, meaning Block Island abides by the state's water quality regulations and the US Clean Water Act. The department also granted a freshwater wetland permit for some onshore activities.
The US-based offshore wind developer must now get consent from the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council before the project can progress.
It also needs to be approved by the US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and the US Army Corps of Engineers. Deepwater expects to receive all remaining permits this spring.
In February, the developer handed French manufacturer Alstom the deal to supply five 6MW Haliade turbines for the Block Island site. Deepwater hopes to bring the project online in 2016.
