Last month, the Trump administration halted the nearly complete, 704MW Revolution Wind offshore wind project. Now, its developer and two states are suing to overturn what they say is an illegal order.
On September 4th, the states of Rhode Island and Connecticut sued the US federal government after the Trump administration halted work on the Revolution Wind project on August 22nd.
The wind farm is 80% complete, and is expected to power some 350,000 homes starting next year.
Their complaint, filed in Rhode Island federal court against the Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), seeks to overturn what they called the “baseless” order, which they say is unlawful and threatens jobs, climate goals, and billions of dollars in investment.
They said the order was not supported by statutory authority, lacked evidence, and did not identify any specific legal violations. Instead, it referenced only vague concerns rather than concrete risks to safety or clear breaches of law, they added.
‘Insane, illogical, and illegal’
They said “such arbitrary and capricious government conduct violates both the Administrative Procedure Act and the government’s authority” under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA).
“Revolution Wind is fully permitted, nearly complete and months from providing enough American-made, clean, affordable energy to power 350,000 homes,” said Connecticut Attorney General William Tong.
“Now, with zero justification, Trump wants to mothball the project, send workers home, and saddle Connecticut families with millions of dollars in higher energy costs. This kind of erratic and reckless governing is blatantly illegal, and we’re suing to stop it,” he added.
“Shutting down Revolution Wind is insane, illogical, and illegal,” said US Senator for Connecticut, Richard Blumenthal. “Thousands of workers are without jobs, businesses may close, and energy prices will only climb higher because of this foolish decision.”
Developer sues, too
Also on September 4th, the developer – Revolution Wind, a joint venture between Ørsted and a consortium led by Skyborn Renewables – filed a similar complaint in the US District Court for the District of Columbia.
The joint venture’s complaint said BOEM lacked legal authority for the stop-work order and that its stated basis violated applicable law.
It said contractors had already installed 100% of offshore foundations and around 70% of wind turbines. Export cable installation was nearly complete, as was 90% of the onshore substation.
“The project is facing substantial harm from continuation of the stop-work order, and as a result, litigation is a necessary step,” it said.
Revolution Wind lies about 15 miles south of Rhode Island’s coast and roughly 32 miles southeast of Connecticut.
‘Damaging signal to industry’
The stop work order “represents a deeply concerning development and a significant escalation in the Trump Administration’s opposition to the domestic wind energy sector,” said Kris Ohleth, director of the Special Initiative on Offshore Wind, an independent organisation that provides strategic guidance on the offshore wind sector.
“The abrupt halt of such a thoroughly reviewed and approved project undermines the integrity of the regulatory process and has drawn widespread criticism from those directly impacted – from offshore tradespeople to local and regional leaders,” she said in an email exchange with GCR.
“This pattern of obstruction sends a damaging signal to the broader offshore wind industry. It creates a chilling effect, deterring developers, investors, and manufacturers from committing to long-term investments across the United States. This includes potential manufacturing and supply chain expansions in both red and blue states nationwide,” she added.
At least a year’s delay
Revolution Wind says around $5bn has already been spent on the project, with an additional $1bn potentially required if the stoppage remains in place.
The joint venture warns that specialised vessels vital for offshore wind construction may be unavailable, which could delay the project by at least a year or even jeopardise completion.
If completed, Revolution Wind is expected to cut Rhode Island’s greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 11 million metric tons, advancing its goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
“At a time when the US must accelerate the deployment of clean, domestically-produced energy and bolster its manufacturing capabilities to heal and grow our economy, halting a nearly completed offshore wind project is counterproductive and deeply misaligned with national economic and energy goals,” said Ohleth.
“Offshore wind represents a critical opportunity for American energy independence, job creation, and climate resilience. Actions that delay or dismantle these projects only set our nation back,” she added.
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