• The U.S. Interior Department has issued a stop-work order for the nearly-complete Revolution Wind offshore project.
  • Developer Ørsted, which reports the project is 80% built, is weighing legal action to reverse the decision.
  • The move escalates political tensions over U.S. energy policy and creates significant uncertainty for the offshore wind sector.

The Trump administration has abruptly halted construction on Ørsted A/S’s Revolution Wind project, a major offshore wind farm off the coasts of Rhode Island and Connecticut, in a significant escalation of its opposition to the renewable energy sector. The U.S. Interior Department issued the stop-work order, citing “national security interests” and the “protection of other marine uses,” though it provided no specific details to substantiate the claims.

The order targets a project that is overwhelmingly complete. According to people familiar with the matter, Ørsted has informed officials that physical construction is approximately 80% finished. The 65-turbine project, developed in partnership with BlackRock’s Global Infrastructure Partners, represents a multi-billion dollar investment and is designed to power an estimated 350,000 homes.

“This unprecedented action against a project in an advanced stage of construction creates immense financial and regulatory uncertainty for the entire U.S. offshore wind industry,” said one industry analyst who asked not to be named due to the political sensitivity of the matter. The halt risks significant economic losses for developers, contractors, and local communities that were anticipating long-term operational jobs.

Ørsted, one of the world's largest offshore wind developers, is now evaluating its legal options. A company spokesperson said they were “surprised and disappointed” by the order and are “assessing all avenues to have this decision reversed as swiftly as possible.” Legal challenges are widely expected from both the developer and state officials.

The move has drawn immediate and fierce condemnation from state leadership. Governors in both Rhode Island and Connecticut have publicly condemned the federal order and are preparing their own legal and political challenges. The action represents a direct clash between federal energy policy and state-level ambitions to expand renewable power and create green jobs.

This decision aligns with former President Trump’s long-standing and publicly stated skepticism of wind energy, which he has frequently claimed is unreliable and “ruins our country.” The order effectively freezes a key project that was accelerated under the previous administration's policies and sends a chilling signal to other investors in the sector. If the order stands, it could establish a precedent for abrupt federal intervention in major energy infrastructure, potentially raising the risk premium demanded by investors for future U.S. projects.