Connecticut, Rhode Island, Developers Sue Trump Administration Over Offshore Wind Halt

The Trump administration has halted construction on the Revolution Wind offshore project, a nearly completed 704-megawatt wind farm off the coast of Rhode Island designed to power 350,000 homes, citing national security concerns. This stop-work order, issued by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), has prompted legal challenges from the states of Rhode Island and Connecticut, along with developers Ørsted and Skyborn Renewables, who argue the order lacked legal justification and threatens the project's viability and regional grid reliability. The lawsuit emphasizes the project's importance to state renewable energy goals, job support, and infrastructure investments, while the regional grid operator warned delays increase risks to electricity supply. Additionally, the Trump administration plans to withdraw federal approval for the New England Wind project off Massachusetts, marking a broader crackdown on offshore wind initiatives favored under the previous administration. Opponents, including the Trump administration, claim prior approvals overlooked environmental laws and potential adverse impacts. These moves reflect the current administration's stance against offshore wind development, which it views as unreliable despite its role in climate change mitigation efforts.