In a significant legal victory for renewable energy, a federal judge ruled on Monday that Orsted, a Danish energy company, can resume construction on its Revolution Wind farm. This massive offshore project, located off the coast of Rhode Island, was nearing completion when the Trump administration unexpectedly halted work last month.
U.S. District Court Judge Royce Lamberth, presiding over the District of Columbia, issued a preliminary injunction in response to Orsted’s lawsuit challenging the Interior Department’s stop-work order.
“Revolution Wind is eager to restart construction as soon as possible, with safety remaining our utmost priority,” Orsted stated. The company emphasized its commitment to “continue seeking collaborative solutions with the U.S. administration and other stakeholders for a swift resolution,” even as the underlying lawsuit proceeds.
The Trump administration retains the option to appeal this ruling. As of now, neither the White House nor the Department of the Interior has commented on the decision.
At the time of the Interior Department’s surprising halt, the $6.2 billion Revolution Wind project was already 80 percent complete. The developers were confident that the 65-turbine farm would be operational by next spring, capable of powering over 350,000 homes across Rhode Island and Connecticut.
The administration’s justification for the shutdown cited unspecified “national security concerns.” In its defense against Orsted’s lawsuit, the government further argued that the project had failed to meet certain permit conditions, specifically regarding coordination with the U.S. Navy to prevent interference with military operations.
However, Orsted’s court filings revealed that the company was incurring losses of $2.3 million daily due to the pause. They also asserted that the project had already successfully navigated an exhaustive national security review by the federal government before receiving its final approval in 2023.
Judge Lamberth’s ruling highlighted that Revolution Wind “has demonstrated a likelihood of success” in its claims, concluding that the company would suffer “irreparable harm” if the Trump administration’s order to cease work were allowed to persist.
This court decision marks the first major legal hurdle for President Trump’s broader agenda to slow down the U.S. offshore wind industry. Beyond the Revolution Wind incident, the administration has also attempted to revoke permits for other offshore wind ventures near Massachusetts and Maryland.
Furthermore, the White House has engaged several federal agencies in a coordinated effort to obstruct the growth of offshore wind. This extensive initiative includes involving the Health and Human Services Department to investigate potential health impacts of wind turbines, and the Department of Defense to identify any national security vulnerabilities.
Karen Zraick provided additional reporting from New York.