Court Lets Orsted Resume U.S. Offshore Wind Project Despite Trump

---

Written by Daniel Graeber for IIR News Intelligence (Sugar Land, Texas)

---

Summary

Danish renewable energy company Orsted can continue work on the Revolution Wind project off the coast of Rhode Island. Citing classified reports, the Trump administration tried to stop it on national security grounds.

---

Revolution Wind Continues

Renewable energy company Orsted (Fredericia, Denmark), said Monday it will resume work on its Revolution Wind project off the U.S. Atlantic Coast after a court ruled against a federal stop-work order.

The U.S. Department of Defense in late December said it found national security risks in classified reports related to offshore wind. As a result, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum suspended operations for five offshore windfarms in various stages of construction.

Senior Judge Royce Lamberth of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia said Monday there was a month between when the Pentagon revealed its concerns and when the Interior Department issued its suspensions, suggesting the stop-work order wasn't justified.

Lamberth last year ruled a previous stop-work order was "arbitrary and capricious."

"When I stayed the bureau's first stop-work order back in September 2025, I said the bureau's failure to provide any reasoning for its decision was the height of arbitrary and capricious action," he was quoted in Politico as saying. "This time the government did provide a reason for its decision, but its failure to explain or apply that reasoning suggests the stated national security reason may have been pre-textual."

Orsted said it would resume work on the Revolution Wind project off the coast of Rhode Island "as soon as possible" in order to provide power to Northeast communities.

"Revolution Wind will determine how best it may be possible to work with the U.S. Administration to achieve an expeditious and durable resolution," the company added. Revolution Wind is a 50/50 joint venture between Orsted and Global Infrastructure Partners' Skyborn Renewables (Hamburg, Germany).

Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Power Project and Plant databases can learn more about Revolution Wind--including capacities, investment values and necessary equipment--in a list of detailed project reports and a plant profile.

The other companies challenging the administration over the U.S. stop-work order had yet to issue statements on the court ruling. In addition to Revolution Wind, the order impacted the following facilities:

• Vineyard Wind 1 (800 MW)
• The Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project (2,600 MW)
• Empire Wind 1 (810 MW)
• Sunrise Wind (880 MW)

Revolution Wind has a total investment value of $4.56 billion. The wind farm consists of 65 turbines, each with a capacity of 11 megawatts, and it's nearly completed. It was expected to start sending power to the Rhode Island and Connecticut grids as early as this month.

Final construction could be done by June.

Rhode Island Governor is Pleased

President Donald Trump, a strong proponent of fossil fuels, used executive action in January 2025 to limit wind activity. The administration claims it's opposed to renewable energy in general because of its intermittent nature. State leaders, however, are not convinced.

"Increasing our energy supply options is essential to lowering long-term costs," Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee stated. "That's why my administration continues to support an all-of-the-above energy strategy that includes offshore wind, nuclear power, natural gas and hydropower."

Federal data show that natural gas dominates the electric power sector. Renewables, however, could account for about 25% of total power generation this year, up slightly from year-ago levels. Of all renewable resources, wind energy could account for about 40% of what's on the grid this year.

By the Numbers

• 40% of renewable power comes from wind energy
• $4.2 billion in investments for Revolution Wind
• 11 MW expected from the offshore facility

Key Takeaways

• Second loss for Trump on wind energy.
• Orsted to continue progress for Revolution Wind.
• Rhode Island embracing all-of-the-above energy policy.

---

About IIR News Intelligence
IIR News Intelligence is a trusted source of news for the industrial process and energy markets, powered by Industrial Info Resource's Global Market Intelligence (GMI).

About Industrial Info Resources
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking over 250,000 current and future projects worth $30.2 Trillion (USD).