Trump goes after an offshore wind farm that’s already up and running
The Trump administration seeks to reopen permits for the operational Revolution Wind offshore project, injecting uncertainty despite its completed turbines and power generation.
The Interior Department filed a motion Friday asking a federal court to reconsider its 2023 approval of the 704-megawatt Revolution Wind project, which began generating power in March and completed turbine installation in September. The move follows a lawsuit by the anti-wind group Green Oceans, which alleges federal agencies violated environmental laws by approving the project. While the filing does not immediately halt operations, it prolongs legal uncertainty for a project already supplying clean electricity to over 350,000 homes in Connecticut and Rhode Island.
Interior’s request to remand the permits reflects ongoing litigation that could extend into early 2025, according to legal experts monitoring the case. The agency stated it is adhering to a court-mandated briefing schedule and not altering its offshore wind policy, despite the filing. Offshore wind advocates warn the delay risks undermining regional energy reliability during peak demand periods, such as heat waves and winter cold spells.
The administration’s action coincides with bipartisan Senate efforts to reform federal permitting rules, led by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), who criticized the move as undermining legal certainty. The Interior Department reiterated its commitment to consistent permitting processes, though critics argue the filing contradicts stated support for clean energy deployment.
Revolution Wind’s development spanned nine years and involved multiple federal and state agencies before securing permits. The project, developed by Ørsted, represents a critical component of the Northeast’s clean energy infrastructure, yet its future now hinges on a court decision expected in the coming months.