In a significant development, a federal judge on Monday delivered a crucial ruling, allowing Orsted, the Danish energy giant, to recommence work on its massive Revolution Wind farm. This pivotal project, located off the Rhode Island coast and nearing completion, faced an unexpected and controversial stoppage last month, directly ordered by the Trump administration.
Judge Royce Lamberth of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issued a preliminary injunction, siding with the developers of Revolution Wind in their lawsuit against the Interior Department’s contentious stop-work order. This decision ensures that construction can proceed without further delays as the legal battle unfolds.
Orsted, which is spearheading the wind farm’s development in a joint venture with Skyborn Renewables, quickly announced its intention to “resume impacted construction work as soon as possible, with safety as the top priority.” The company also expressed a commitment to “continue to seek to work collaboratively with the U.S. administration and other stakeholders toward a prompt resolution” of the ongoing legal dispute.
The substantial $6.2 billion Revolution Wind endeavor, a 65-turbine project, was already 80 percent complete when the Interior Department abruptly issued its halt order on August 29. Developers had confidently predicted the farm would begin supplying clean electricity to over 350,000 homes across Rhode Island and Connecticut by the upcoming spring.
The Interior Department’s initial order to cease construction last month cited vague “national security concerns.” In its defense against Orsted’s lawsuit, the government further contended that the project had not adequately adhered to permit requirements, specifically regarding coordination with the U.S. Navy to mitigate potential interference with military operations.
Court filings revealed that Orsted was incurring daily losses of $2.3 million due to the enforced stoppage. The company emphasized that the project had already undergone a thorough national security review by federal authorities, receiving final approval in 2023 before any construction began.
Judge Lamberth’s ruling highlighted that Revolution Wind had successfully demonstrated a “likelihood of success” in its legal challenge. He concluded that the company would face “irreparable harm” if the Trump administration’s order to halt construction were allowed to persist.
Elizabeth Peace, a spokeswoman for the Interior Department, confirmed that Revolution Wind “will be able to resume construction.” She noted that the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management would “continue its investigation into possible impacts by the project to national security and prevention of other uses on the Outer Continental Shelf,” suggesting the federal review is still ongoing despite the injunction.
Further legal uncertainties loom, as the Trump administration retains the option to appeal Judge Lamberth’s decision. The White House has not yet provided a comment on the ruling.
This court decision marks the first major legal impediment to President Trump’s broader agenda aimed at hindering the growth of the U.S. offshore wind industry. Beyond the Revolution Wind halt, his administration has also attempted to revoke permits for similar projects near Massachusetts and Maryland.
The White House’s strategy to undermine offshore wind development has involved mobilizing numerous federal agencies. This coordinated effort includes directing the Health and Human Services Department to investigate potential health impacts of wind turbines, and urging the Department of Defense to identify any national security risks, illustrating a determined push to curb the sector’s expansion.
Earlier in April, the Interior Department had similarly ordered a halt to work on Empire Wind, a $5 billion project off New York’s coast that had already secured all necessary Biden administration approvals and was under construction. Following weeks of negotiation with New York Governor Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, the administration eventually allowed the Empire Wind project to continue.
White House sources implied that this reversal came only after Governor Hochul consented to new gas pipeline approvals within the state. However, the Governor vehemently refuted any such quid pro quo.
Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, also a Democrat, had previously expressed openness to discussing the Trump administration’s concerns regarding Revolution Wind. During a news conference on Monday, he confirmed “extensive conversations and negotiations” over the weekend, but acknowledged that the court’s decision now permits work to proceed immediately.
Lamont declared, “My understanding is that the work can begin again soon. If we want to talk about birds and fish and national security, we can do that, but in the meantime, let’s get back to work,” underscoring the urgency to resume construction.
Both Connecticut and Rhode Island had independently launched federal lawsuits to contest the stop-work order, highlighting the broad opposition to the administration’s actions.
The sudden stop-work order had plunged the Revolution Wind project, which employed over 1,200 individuals at its peak, into chaos. Workers were unexpectedly furloughed, uncertain about their return, while vital components like massive turbine blades remained stranded at the New London port.
“We work on an hourly basis, so this stoppage is affecting wages, benefits, pensions,” said John Dunderdale, the business manager for the Pile Drivers and Divers Local 56, which had more than 40 unionized workers on the project. “It put our guys in a holding pattern.”
Karen Zraick provided additional reporting for this article from New York.