BOEM Orders Revolution Wind to Halt Construction on Offshore Wind Project
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management ordered Revolution Wind to stop construction on its offshore wind project off the coast of Rhode Island, Ørsted announced on Friday.
Revolution Wind is a 50/50 joint venture between Ørsted and Global Infrastructure Partner’s Skyborn Renewables.
“Revolution Wind is complying with the order and is taking appropriate steps to stop offshore activities, ensuring the safety of workers and the environment,” Ørsted said in a news release.
The project is 80% complete, according to Ørsted, which added that all offshore foundations and 45 of the 65 wind turbines were installed. Revolution Wind began offshore construction in 2024 after receiving final federal approval from BOEM and was scheduled to be completed in 2026, Ørsted said.
Ørsted said it was “evaluating the potential financial implications of this development, considering a range of scenarios, including legal proceedings.”
The company was working “to resolve the matter expeditiously,” it said in the release. “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 COD in the second half of 2026.”
Revolution Wind has 20-year power purchase agreements with Rhode Island to deliver 400 megawatts of electricity and Connecticut to deliver 304 MW of electricity, according to Ørsted.
“This political move by the Trump administration will drive up the cost of electricity bills and contradicts everything the administration has told us,” Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont said in a statement on Saturday. “It wastes years of state investment in renewable energy designed to diversify our energy supply and lower costs for families and businesses.
“The project, which was on track to be completed early next year, would have powered more than 350,000 homes across Connecticut and Rhode Island while creating good-paying, clean energy jobs. All of that is now at risk. We are working closely with Rhode Island to save this project because it represents exactly the kind of investment that reduces energy costs, strengthens regional production, and builds a more secure energy future – the very goals President Trump claims to support but undermines with this decision.”
President Trump has targeted wind projects since his first day in office when he issued an executive order halting all onshore and offshore wind leases and permits on Jan. 20.
The order stated that “the heads of all other relevant agencies, shall not issue new or renewed approvals, rights of way, permits, leases, or loans for onshore or offshore wind projects pending the completion of a comprehensive assessment and review of Federal wind leasing and permitting practices.”
The order also withdrew all areas of the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf for wind energy leasing and said the government would no longer consider “any area in the OCS” for the wind generation, including “any new or renewed energy leasing.” Other leasing activity, including oil, gas, minerals and environmental conservation were unaffected, the order stated.
Reporting by Jeremy Rakes, jrakes@opisnet.com; Editing by Henry Kronk, hkronk@opisnet.com and Michael Kelly, mkelly@opisnet.com