Orsted Files Legal Action to Rescue Offshore Wind Project from Trump Administration's Cancellation

In an effort to block the Trump administration from halting a wind farm development off the New England coastline, renewable energy firm Orsted has taken legal steps by filing a lawsuit on Thursday.

Orsted received an unexpected directive from the Department of the Interior on August 22, mandating the cessation of its work on the Revolution Wind project, which is located near Rhode Island and Connecticut. Although almost 80% finished, the project promises to generate electricity for over 350,000 residences in the vicinity.

Challenging this mandate, Orsted has petitioned the United States District Court in the District of Columbia, arguing that the halting order was both illegitimate and made in poor faith.

Allegations Against Trump's Opposition to Wind Energy

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has justified the delay by voicing concerns around Revolution Wind's potential disruptions to other maritime activities in U.S. waters. However, Orsted contends these reasons are merely a façade, citing President Donald Trump's well-documented aversion to wind energy, a stance he has maintained for over ten years.

In court, Orsted's legal representative highlighted the President's explicit disdain for offshore wind farms, drawing attention to the campaign rhetoric.

Rigorous Approval Process Under Threat

Detailed reviews concerning environmental impact and safety, costing hundreds of millions, have been conducted over almost ten years for the Revolution Wind project. Orsted's lawsuit references comprehensive evidence demonstrating the project's compliance with environmental, safety, and legal standards.

From the onset of his presidency, Trump enacted policies that have restricted new leasing for offshore wind projects in federal waters, yet the renewable industry held on to hope that current initiatives like Revolution Wind might proceed unaffected.

Intensified Administrative Measures Against Renewable Energy

President Trump's opposition to the renewable energy sector has grown more pronounced, with his administration intensifying its efforts against projects shortly before imposing the halt on Revolution Wind.

Additionally, on Friday, moves were taken by the Trump administration to retract permits for a series of infrastructure projects pivotal to the offshore wind industry, amplifying the challenge faced by the sector.