Wind Businesses, Industry Fight Back As Trump Escalates His War On Clean Energy
The Trump Administration continues to escalate its irrational attacks on the development of clean, reliable, and abundant offshore wind energy. In the latest development, the Trump Interior Department is trying to halt construction of a major wind project that is already nearly 80% completed.
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) on Friday issued a letter telling the owners of Revolution Wind, a $4 billion wind farm project off the coast of Rhode Island, to stop construction work while the administration reviewed unspecified alleged “national security issues” related to the project.
That’s almost certainly a slap at the Danish government’s partial ownership interest in Revolution Wind’s owner Orsted, a Denmark-based corporation. It could even be connected to the Trump Administration’s earlier attempt to extort Denmark into selling Greenland to the U. S., a demand that Denmark has flatly rejected.
Industry Responds
Orsted responded that it would suspend construction activities as ordered, but that it is “evaluating all options to resolve the matter expeditiously. This includes engagement with relevant permitting agencies for any necessary clarification or resolution as well as through potential legal proceedings, with the aim being to proceed with continued project construction towards [the commercial operating date] in the second half of 2026.”
The company noted that it had received all final permits necessary and started construction during 2024. The project is now 80% complete, with all offshore foundations installed and 45 out of 65 wind turbines installed.
Kill Jobs, Hurt U.S. Economy
Erik Milito, president of the National Ocean Industries Association, which represents offshore energy companies, said in a statement that the Trump administration decision would kill jobs and hurt the U. S. economy. “Revolution Wind is already under construction and nearly complete, representing years of planning, billions in private investment, and significant progress for America’s offshore energy supply chain,” he said. “Any pause or uncertainty at this stage could ripple across jobs, contracts and communities already benefiting from the project.”
Kit Kennedy, managing director for power at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), told the New York Times, “This administration has it exactly backward. It’s trying to prop up clunky, polluting coal plants while doing all it can to halt the fastest-growing energy sources of the future – solar and wind power.”
Public Officials Pledge to Fight Back
Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee criticized the stop-work order and said he and Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont “will pursue every avenue to reverse the decision to halt work on Revolution Wind.”
“This arbitrary decision defies all logic and reason – Revolution Wind’s project was already well underway and employed hundreds of skilled tradesmen and women. This is a major setback for a critical project in Connecticut, and I will fight it,” added Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT).
Past Efforts in Trumps War on Wind
Revolution Wind is the second major offshore wind project which the Trump Administration has attempted to halt despite the fact that the projects were fully permitted in 2024 and were now well under construction. The other project attacked was the Empire Wind project off the coast of New York. The Trump Administration backed down on that confrontation after New York Sen. Chuck Schumer and Gov. Kathy Hochul, both Democrats, intervened.
It’s past time for Trump’s mania against wind energy to be stopped for good. It’s threatening America’s clean energy future for no rational purpose.
