At a Glance
- A federal judge lifted the Trump administration’s freeze on Revolution Wind, letting construction resume immediately.
- The project is 90% complete and burning $1.4 million daily while idle.
- Three developers-Orsted, Equinor, and Dominion-are suing over the Dec. 22 shutdown order.
- Why it matters: Power for Rhode Island and Connecticut hangs in the balance as the White House tries to halt East Coast offshore wind.
A federal judge on Monday cleared the way for construction to restart on Revolution Wind, the nearly finished offshore project that will supply electricity to Rhode Island and Connecticut, dealing a setback to the Trump administration’s push to stop new wind farms.
Senior Judge Royce Lamberth ruled the government failed to justify a total work stoppage while it studies unspecified national-security concerns. The order ends a weeks-long pause that had idled crews and a specialized turbine-installation vessel whose contract expires in February.
The Project on the Brink
Revolution Wind has every federal permit in place and is roughly 90% built, according to court filings. Janice Schneider, counsel for the project, told the court the delay is costing $1.4 million per day and jeopardizes the tight window to finish before the ship must leave the site.
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management first halted work on Aug. 22, citing classified security issues. Judge Lamberth lifted that pause in September, citing irreparable harm to developers, only to see a broader Dec. 22 order freeze five East Coast wind projects.
Three Lawsuits, One Week of Hearings
Danish energy giant Orsted, Norway’s Equinor, and Dominion Energy Virginia each filed suit challenging the Dec. 22 freeze. The cases are moving on staggered schedules:
- Monday: Orsted’s Revolution Wind-won relief.
- Wednesday: Equinor’s Empire Wind hearing.
- Friday: Dominion’s Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind hearing.
Empire Wind faces “likely termination” if construction cannot resume by this Friday, Equinor’s LLC warned, because vessel schedules cannot be rebooked.
What the Administration Argued
Justice Department attorney Peter Torstensen told the court that national security is “paramount” and that classified materials show new risks outweigh developer losses. The government offered no public details; project lawyers with security clearances said they received neither classified briefings nor unclassified summaries.
Schneider countered: “We do think that this court should be very skeptical of the government’s true motives here.”
Political Backdrop
President Trump, who campaigned against offshore wind, told oil executives Friday: “I’ve told my people we will not approve windmills … We will not approve any windmills in this country.” He called wind farms “losers” that destroy scenery and kill birds.
The Biden administration had fast-tracked offshore wind as a climate-change solution. Since taking office, Trump has signed orders promoting oil, gas, and coal, and paused leases for:
- Vineyard Wind (Massachusetts)
- Revolution Wind (Rhode Island/Connecticut)
- Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind
- Sunrise Wind (New York)
- Empire Wind (New York)
New York’s attorney general filed suit Friday to protect Sunrise Wind and Empire Wind.
Stakes for Rhode Island and Connecticut
Rhode Island and Connecticut intervened in the case to save Revolution Wind, which is being built by Orsted with Skyborn Renewables. Power delivery to the regional grid was scheduled to begin within weeks.
Molly Morris, Equinor’s senior vice president for Empire Wind, said she hopes “offshore wind is, and will continue to be, part of an all-of-the-above energy solution, which our country desperately needs.”
Dominion labels the Dec. 22 order “arbitrary and capricious” and unconstitutional, seeking an immediate block.
Key Takeaways
- The judge’s order applies only to Revolution Wind; four other projects remain frozen pending separate hearings.
- Without a quick resumption, Empire Wind could collapse by week’s end.
- The administration has not disclosed its security concerns publicly, leaving developers and states in the dark.
- Monday’s decision keeps the 90% complete Revolution Wind on track to begin powering New England homes within weeks.
