🕒 Last updated on September 5, 2025
Ørsted, a Danish renewable energy company, has taken the Trump administration to court after the government abruptly ordered a halt to its nearly finished wind farm off Rhode Island.
A sudden stop to a massive clean energy project
The $6.2 billion project, called Revolution Wind, was already 80 percent complete when officials directed construction to stop last month.
Citing national security concerns, Ørsted received a letter from the Interior Department’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. However, the agency did not explain what those concerns were. The order came as part of a broader campaign by the administration to block offshore wind development.
Ørsted and Skyborn Renewables have partnered to form Revolution Wind. The developers argue that the government’s action is unlawful, arbitrary, and driven by political motives rather than real safety risks. They have now filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, asking judges to overturn the stop-work order.
In a different instance, officials in Connecticut and Rhode Island also announced that they are challenging the government. Both states view the project as vital to their energy supply and economy.
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Billions already invested in Revolution Wind
After Revolution Wind obtained the necessary clearances from the Biden administration, construction got underway in 2023. The developers secured financing and permits through a lengthy review process that involved the Defense Department, the U.S. Coast Guard, and other federal agencies.
More than 350,000 homes in Rhode Island and Connecticut will receive clean electricity from the project’s 65 turbines. The developers said they have already spent $5 billion on construction. If the stop-work order continues, they could lose another $1 billion in penalties for failing to complete the project, in addition to losing billions in future revenue.
The lawsuit warns that halting the project at this stage will cause lasting financial harm. A company spokesperson said litigation is now the only way to protect the project. Meanwhile, the Interior Department declined to comment on the case, citing the ongoing legal dispute.
The decision to halt Revolution Wind is part of a wider pattern. Earlier this year, the administration paused another large project called Empire Wind, off the coast of New York. That project, built by a Norwegian energy company, was allowed to resume only after weeks of uncertainty. During the pause, the developer warned it was losing $50 million every week.
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Growing conflict over offshore wind projects
The Trump administration has taken an aggressive stance against offshore wind. Officials have blocked new projects and targeted those already under construction. The White House has asked multiple federal agencies to investigate possible risks of wind energy, ranging from effects on marine life to national security concerns.
At the same time, several states and clean energy groups are challenging the federal actions in court. Seventeen states and the District of Columbia have joined lawsuits arguing that the administration’s policies violate the law and threaten billions of dollars in clean energy investments.
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Legal experts say that while the government does have authority to pause projects over national security issues, it is normally required to provide written explanations and work with developers on solutions. There was no thorough explanation in the Revolution Wind case.
The situation has also led to tensions between the U.S. and Denmark. The Danish government owns a majority stake in Ørsted and has expressed concern over the stop-work order. Relations between the two countries have already been strained in recent years, adding another layer of conflict to the dispute.
For the time being, the courts will decide Revolution Wind’s future. Ørsted and its partners argue that the project is critical for New England’s energy needs, while the administration continues to push back against offshore wind at a national level.