The Trump administration has ordered a halt to work on the Revolution Wind farm off the coasts of Rhode Island and Connecticut, drawing promises of legal action from state leaders. The project, which was about 80% complete, had been expected to become operational next year.
The US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) sent a letter to developer Ørsted on Friday, instructing the company to stop all activities immediately. BOEM cited national security concerns and said the project needed re-examination under a recent Trump executive order targeting wind energy leases.
Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee and Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont said they would pursue every avenue to reverse the decision. 'This project is just steps away from powering more than 350,000 homes,' McKee stated.
Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut linked the move to alleged campaign donations from the oil industry, calling it 'corruption, plain and simple'. He vowed to work with colleagues to explore all legal paths to restart the project.
Revolution Wind is considered essential for the two states to meet their climate goals, as they have limited space for land-based renewable energy. Rhode Island's attorney general warned that without the project, the state's climate law would be 'dead in the water'.
Construction began in 2023, with 45 of 65 turbines already installed. Ørsted said it is evaluating the financial impact of the halt and considering legal proceedings. The wind farm is located more than 15 miles south of Rhode Island and 12 miles off Martha's Vineyard.
