Orsted allowed to resume Revolution Wind work.

A federal judge allowed Orsted to resume work on the nearly finished Revolution Wind project after the Interior Department paused five offshore wind leases; the decision came as preliminary injunction hearings began this week.

A federal judge on Monday allowed Danish developer Orsted to resume work on the nearly finished Revolution Wind project. The Interior Department had suspended five offshore wind leases on Dec. 22, citing national security concerns. Orsted and other developers filed lawsuits seeking to reverse that pause. Monday's hearing was the first of three preliminary injunction hearings this week. Key points: - U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth ordered that work on Revolution Wind may resume, finding the project would be harmed without relief. - The Interior Department announced the Dec. 22 suspension after receiving classified information from the Defense Department about offshore wind and national security. - The ruling took place at the opening of three preliminary injunction hearings scheduled this week, with other cases involving Equinor and Dominion. Summary: The judge's order allows work to proceed on a nearly completed offshore wind project while legal challenges continue. Two more preliminary injunction hearings are scheduled this week to hear other lawsuits seeking to block the Interior Department's pause.