The Trump administration has ordered an immediate halt to work on the Revolution Wind farm off the coasts of Rhode Island and Connecticut, just as the project neared completion. The Danish developer Ørsted, which said 45 of 65 turbines were installed, received a letter from the US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) on Friday demanding a cessation of all activities.
Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee and Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, both Democrats, criticised the stop-work order and pledged to challenge it. McKee said they would pursue every avenue to reverse the decision, calling the farm essential to powering over 350,000 homes. Senator Chris Murphy alleged the halt was linked to oil industry donations to Trump, accusing the president of corruption.
The move aligns with Trump's sweeping actions to prioritise fossil fuels and hinder renewable energy since returning to office. He has repeatedly expressed hostility to wind power, falsely claiming turbines cause cancer and spoil views. The administration has ordered a review of all existing wind leases, citing vaguely defined national security concerns.
Revolution Wind, described as Rhode Island and Connecticut's first commercial-scale offshore wind farm, is crucial for meeting their climate goals under state laws. Rhode Island's attorney general, Peter Neronha, warned that without the project, the state's Act on Climate law would be 'dead in the water'. Ørsted is evaluating the financial impact of the halt and considering legal proceedings.
