Photo Nicholas Doherty
Court grants preliminary injunction
U.S. District Court Judge Royce Lamberth has granted a preliminary injunction allowing Revolution Wind to restart construction on the $6 billion offshore wind project, ruling that the Trump administration failed to justify its sudden decision to halt work on the more than 80% completed development.
The judge said that the government’s stop-work order represented “the height of arbitrary and capricious action,” noting that potential national security impacts were already reviewed during the project’s years-long permitting process. Lamberth stated: “If Revolution Wind cannot meet its deadlines, the entire enterprise could collapse. There is no question in my mind of irreparable harm.”
Project status and legal response
The 704-megawatt offshore wind farm, located 15 miles off Rhode Island’s coast, is being developed jointly by Ørsted and Skyborn Renewables. The project had installed 45 of its 65 turbines when construction was halted on 23 August by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. Once completed, it will provide electricity for approximately 350,000 homes in Rhode Island and Connecticut.
The developers filed a lawsuit on 4 September challenging the stop-work order, arguing it was arbitrary, capricious and unlawful. Connecticut and Rhode Island attorneys general filed a separate lawsuit the same day. The delays were costingthe project up to $2.3 million per day.
Time-critical construction concerns
Ørsted’s senior engineering director Paul Murphy warned that specialised installation ships contracted for the project would depart for other scheduled work, potentially taking years to return. If work did not resume by the end of September, the project risked missing its end-2026 deadline, potentially forcing developers to forgo “billions of dollars” of revenue.
Official reactions
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong called the ruling a “major win,” stating: “The Trump Administration should see the writing on the wall with this decision and drop its defense of their indefensible actions. Every day that this project is stymied is a day of lost employment, another day of unaffordable energy costs, and another day burning fossil fuels when American-made clean energy is within reach.”
Governor Ned Lamont expressed satisfaction with the decision: “it’s good news on behalf of the consumers and bringing down the price of electricity and honoring a contract with Ørsted that goes back to the first Trump administration.”
Kate Sinding Daly of Conservation Law Foundation said: “The court’s decision restores momentum toward bringing clean, local power to New England, strengthening our energy security, and supporting thousands of jobs across the region.”
Next steps
Revolution Wind spokeswoman Meaghan Wims stated that work will resume “as soon as possible,” whilst the company will “continue to seek to work collaboratively with the US Administration and other stakeholders toward a prompt resolution” of the underlying lawsuit.
Department of the Interior spokeswoman Elizabeth Peace said the agency will continue to investigate potential concerns as work resumes, adding: “The Department of the Interior remains committed to ensuring that prior decisions are legally and factually sound.” The Trump administration has not indicated whether it plans to appeal.