A major US offshore wind project, halted last month by Donald Trump's administration, has been given the green light to resume construction after a significant legal ruling. A federal judge rejected the government's attempt to suspend the near-complete wind farm on national security grounds.
Legal Setback for Trump's Wind Opposition
On Monday, US District Judge Royce Lamberth cleared Danish developer Ørsted to continue work on its Revolution Wind project off the coast of Rhode Island. The ruling represents a direct legal challenge to former President Trump, who has repeatedly sought to block the expansion of offshore wind in federal waters.
The Trump administration's Interior Department had suspended five offshore wind leases on 22 December, citing unspecified national security concerns. Government attorneys argued the pause was justified by new, classified information from the Pentagon revealed in November.
"Costing Them One-and-a-Half Million a Day"
Judge Lamberth, appointed by Ronald Reagan, firmly rejected the administration's argument. During the hearing, he questioned Justice Department attorney Peter Torstensen on the impact of the delay, asking, "You want to stop everything in place, costing them one-and-a-half million a day, while you decide what you want to do?"
The judge concluded that the Ørsted project would face "irreparable harm" without an injunction to lift the suspension. Revolution Wind's attorney, Janice Schneider, argued the pause violated federal administrative and due process laws, noting the developer had not been allowed to review the classified assessment.
"This court should be very skeptical of the government's true motives here," Schneider stated.
A Pattern of Disruption for Renewable Projects
The ruling is a critical moment for the US offshore wind industry, which has faced repeated disruptions to multibillion-dollar projects under Trump. The former president has publicly criticised wind turbines, calling them ugly, expensive, and inefficient.
Ørsted's Revolution Wind is a 50-50 joint venture with Global Infrastructure Partners' Skyborn Renewables. The company has confirmed the project is approximately 87% complete and is expected to begin generating power this year.
This lawsuit is one of several filed by wind companies and states challenging the December suspension. Ørsted has also sued on behalf of its Sunrise Wind project off New York. Monday's hearing was the first of three preliminary injunction hearings scheduled this week concerning the offshore wind pause, with cases involving Equinor's Empire Wind and Dominion's Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind facility to follow.
The judge's decision underscores the ongoing tension between the previous administration's energy policies and the continued growth of the renewable sector in the United States.
