Federal Courts Allow All Five Stalled Offshore Wind Projects to Resume Construction

In an important win for clean energy in the face of Trump’s repeated, baseless assault on offshore wind projects, a federal judge ruled to allow the restart of construction on the Sunrise Wind project offshore from New York. That order marks the fifth successful challenge of the Trump Interior Department’s orders in December halting five major offshore wind energy projects. 

All five projects were completely permitted and well under construction, some only weeks away from beginning operation. In the Sunrise Wind case, “Judge Royce Lamberth found that the government had not shown that offshore wind is such an imminent national security risk that it must halt in the United States.” In bringing the legal action, Danish wind power company Orsted challenged the stop work orders on both the Sunrise Wind project and the Revolution Wind project off the shores of Rhode Island and Connecticut.

Five Wins for Offshore Wind

In a news release, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) noted that since December, the five halted projects won similar court orders to restart Vineyard Wind off Massachusetts, Revolution Wind off Rhode Island, Empire Wind off New York, and Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) off Virginia.

“The Trump Administration’s attempts to ban clean energy have already cost us billions. They’ve stalled projects, killed jobs, and raised energy bills for millions of families. Today’s ruling is yet another proof point that their actions are built on baseless claims propping up Trump’s irrational vendetta against offshore wind,” said Kathleen Meil, LCV Local Clean Energy Deployment Director. “As energy demand continues to rise, the Trump Administration is doing everything they can to block the deployment of affordable, reliable clean energy. We will keep fighting to lower energy costs, grow clean energy jobs, and protect the health and safety of our communities.” 

Rule of Law Still Matters

“Recent federal court rulings affecting five offshore wind projects have made one thing clear: the rule of law still matters,” added Katie Segal, Environmental League of Massachusetts Senior Offshore Wind Director and Regional Lead, New England for Offshore Wind. “The five affected offshore wind projects were thoroughly evaluated prior to construction. Developers operate within a system designed to protect national interests while advancing American energy production. The courts recognized that the government’s current claims were not sufficient to stop construction while the challenges to the earlier issued permits unfolded in court.  As a result, workers can return to their jobs, and New England, along with the rest of the East Coast, can move closer to a more affordable, reliable, and resilient energy future. This legal victory is a reminder that when lawful processes are respected, everyday Americans benefit.”