Ørsted , Rhode Island and Connecticut sue Trump administration to restart $5 billion offshore wind project halted at 80% completion. Image: DredgeWire.
(The Post News)– Rhode Island and Connecticut have joined Ørsted in a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration for abruptly halting the $5 billion Revolution Wind project, an offshore wind farm designed to power 350,000 homes across the two states.
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) issued a stop-work order on August 22, citing unspecified national security concerns. Ørsted and state officials argue the order lacks legal basis, contradicts years of federal reviews, and threatens the Northeast’s clean energy goals.
Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha called the shutdown an “all-out assault” on renewable energy. Connecticut Attorney General William Tong warned that the decision could cost ratepayers tens of millions and undermine regional energy stability during peak winter demand.
Ørsted and its partner Skyborn Renewables filed a separate suit in Washington, D.C., stating the project is already 80% complete. All underwater foundations are in place, and 45 of 65 turbines have been installed. “Revolution Wind is fully permitted, legally compliant, and vital to New England’s energy future,” Ørsted said in a statement.
Ørsted Legal and Financial Stakes
The companies have already invested $5 billion in the project and risk losing an additional $1 billion in cancellation fees. Construction started in 2024 after a nine-year federal and state review process. All necessary permits were secured under the Biden administration in 2023.
The plaintiffs demand the court lift the stop-work order, calling it “arbitrary” and politically motivated. Ørsted also seeks a preliminary injunction to resume construction immediately.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum claimed the turbines could interfere with radar systems and provide cover for drone attacks. Retired U.S. Navy Cmdr. Kirk Lippold rejected the claim as “specious,” adding that if drones reached U.S. shores undetected, it would signal a massive intelligence failure.
Senator Jack Reed, a national security expert, confirmed that the Department of Defense previously approved the project with minor conditions. The federal record of decision called any impacts to military operations “negligible and avoidable.”
President Trump has frequently criticized offshore wind, calling it costly, unattractive, and harmful to wildlife. In a recent Cabinet meeting, he pledged to block future wind projects unless legally required to allow them. Days before the Revolution Wind shutdown, Trump publicly declared his intent to halt new wind and solar development.
The administration has also revoked or paused multiple other wind projects, including New England Wind, SouthCoast Wind, and Maryland Offshore Wind, collectively poised to power 2.5 million homes.
Economic Fallout and Regional Impact
The shutdown endangers over 2,500 U.S. jobs in construction, shipbuilding, and clean energy manufacturing. Connecticut alone invested $200 million to redevelop the State Pier in New London to support offshore wind deployment.
The Revolution Wind project was expected to supply 2.5% of New England’s electricity at a locked-in price of 9.8 cents per kilowatt-hour for 20 years, cheaper than projected market rates.
Katie Dykes, head of Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, said canceling the project could strain the grid and increase reliance on fossil fuels, especially during cold weather when natural gas is prioritized for heating.
With billions of dollars, thousands of jobs, and critical energy infrastructure at stake, the lawsuits represent a defining battle over the future of renewable energy in the U.S. Whether the courts side with the states and Ørsted or uphold the Trump administration’s stop-work order will have lasting consequences for the nation’s offshore wind ambitions.
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