Developers Challenge Revolution Wind Suspension

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

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Summary

Danish energy firm Orsted said it would challenge a suspension order for its Revolution Wind facility off Rhode Island. The facility was slated to begin delivering power this month.

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We've Already Been Vetted, Orsted Says

The developers of the Revolution Wind facility off the coast of Rhode Island took legal action against the Trump administration for working to thwart its progress.

Joint venture partners Orsted (Fredericia, Denmark) and Skyborn Renewables (Hamburg, Germany) filed a supplemental complaint in the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia challenging a suspension order issued December 22 by the U.S. Department of the Interior.

"Revolution Wind has spent and committed billions of dollars in reliance upon, and has met the requests of, a thorough review process," the companies said in a statement Thursday.

After the U.S. Department of Defense said it uncovered national security risks in classified reports, the Department of the Interior in late December cited those concerns in suspending operations for the five wind projects currently in advanced stages of construction and operation.

The following leases were paused:

• Vineyard Wind 1
• Revolution Wind
• The Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project
• Empire Wind 1
• Sunrise Wind

Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Project Database can learn more by viewing the related project reports.

Click here to read a detailed article about the December suspension order.

The developers of Revolution Wind said their project is in the "advanced" stages of construction, with 56 of the 65 wind turbines in place and 87% of the construction completed. The facility was expected to start generating initial power this month.

Pointing to the national security concerns, developers said they secured all of the necessary federal and state permits in 2023. The project has already been through a years-long vetting process with the Department of Defense, which addressed national security and potential defense issues in its consultation.

Lightning Strikes Twice

This isn't the first time that U.S. President Donald Trump has worked to stop Revolution Wind. In August, the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) issued a stop-work order for Revolution Wind, saying it needed to "address concerns related to the protection of national security interests of the United States."

The federal government at the time did not specify its areas of concerns. The order issued in December, meanwhile, was not thoroughly defined, lacking specifics on projects under construction or already operational. The order did not say explicitly that current construction, operation or permitting were revoked either.

In its ruling last month, the Interior Department stressed that federal reports have long found that the movement of massive turbine blades and the highly reflective towers create radar interference called "clutter," which could interfere with defensive radars.

A federal judge, however, had already ruled that previous efforts to pause offshore wind development were "arbitrary and capricious and contrary to law."

Few other developers have yet to signal legal action against the Trump administration's latest effort to impose a moratorium. Orsted did add that it was weighing its legal options for Sunrise Wind, which was suspended by the December order.

Trump Has Spent Year One Fighting Offshore Wind

In line with a presidential memorandum issued on January 20, 2025, calling for the temporary removal of all wind energy leases on the continental shelf, the BOEM in early August rescinded all of the designated offshore Wind Energy Areas (WEAs) from the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).

But despite the political interruptions, wind energy is set for gains in the U.S. power sector. The U.S. Energy Information Administration, part of the U.S. Department of Energy, said total wind energy generated 291.8 billion kilowatt-hours last year and could increase by 18% this year.

No other form of renewable energy in the U.S. generates more power than wind. Wind energy should account for 11% of what's on the grid this year, compared to an expected 8% for solar arrays.

Key Takeaways

• Orsted is challenging the suspension of Revolution Wind.
• The Trump administration suspended offshore wind activity last month.
• More legal challenges could follow.

By the numbers

• 56 of the 65 turbines installed for Revolution Wind
• 11% of U.S. energy to come from wind
• Five projects suspended last month by Trump

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 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 Trillion (USD).