Federal judge allows work to continue on New England offshore wind farm
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A federal judge has cleared the way for work to resume on an offshore wind farm in New England, ruling Monday that the Trump administration failed to justify its order to stop work on the nearly complete Revolution Wind project.
U.S. District Court Judge Royce Lamberth said the administration had failed to substantiate its claims that the project would cause national security risks, the Rhode Island Current reported, calling the order “the height of arbitrary and capricious action.”
Lamberth said the government’s stop-work order jeopardized the $6.2 billion project, causing “irreparable harm.” The project, which is 80 percent complete, is slated to provide more than 700 megawatts of power by the end of 2026.
State leaders and grid operators in New England have said the Trump administration’s order is a threat to grid reliability and energy prices. Revolution Wind, which will provide power to Connecticut and Rhode Island, will make up about 2.5 percent of the power across New England.
The attorneys general in Connecticut and Rhode Island joined project developers in suing the government, asking for work to resume.
“The Trump Administration should see the writing on the wall with this decision and drop its defense of their indefensible actions,” Connecticut Attorney General Tong said in a statement. “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.”
Project developers for Revolution Wind said they will resume work as quickly as possible. Trump officials did not say whether they will appeal the ruling.
President Donald Trump has waged an all-out assault on offshore wind, halting leases for new projects, revoking permits, canceling funding to support manufacturing and ports, and threatening even projects that are under construction.
Last week, the Interior Department sought to remand approvals for projects it had previously permitted in Maryland and New England, The New Bedford Light reported.
