The Trump administration has revived a legal challenge to block Ørsted’s Revolution Wind project, a 704-megawatt offshore wind farm off Rhode Island. The Justice Department filed a motion arguing the Biden administration erred in approving the project in 2023, citing harm to fishing, scientific research, and scenic views. The move reverses a recent stance where Trump had signaled support for wind energy to secure bipartisan permitting reform.
This follows a December attempt to shut down five offshore wind farms, which were blocked by lawsuits. The project, a joint venture between Ørsted and Skyborn Renewables, has installed all 65 turbines and is expected to begin commercial operations soon. The administration's shifting position has created confusion among developers, with one calling the guidance "unreasonable and kind of crazy." Jarrod Agen of the National Energy Dominance Council claimed the lawsuit was originally brought by local community members, not the federal government, and reaffirmed support for permitting reform.
Source: Financial Times Companies · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing