Offshore wind project cleared to resume after U.S. court ruling

A federal judge ruled that work on the Revolution Wind offshore project can resume after the administration ordered a pause over national security concerns. Revolution Wind is permitted and reported to be nearly 90% complete.

A federal judge in Washington, D.C., ruled Monday that construction on the Revolution Wind offshore project may resume after a federal stop-work order. The administration had ordered a pause on several East Coast offshore wind projects citing national security concerns. Revolution Wind has received federal permits and was described as nearly 90% complete. The decision comes as developers and states mount court challenges to the administration's December order. Key facts: - Senior Judge Royce Lamberth said the government did not show why a full stop to construction was needed and questioned the change in position. - Revolution Wind had federal permits and was reported nearly 90% complete, with developers saying delays cost about $1.4 million per day. - The administration paused leases for five projects, including Revolution Wind, Vineyard Wind, Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind, Sunrise Wind, and Empire Wind. - Orsted, Equinor, and Dominion Energy Virginia have filed lawsuits to challenge the Dec. 22 freeze; Orsted’s hearing for Revolution Wind was first this week. - Additional hearings were scheduled this week for other projects, with Equinor’s hearing noted as Wednesday and Dominion’s as Friday. Summary: The court decision allows work on Revolution Wind to resume and relieves immediate pressure on that project, while several other large offshore wind projects remain paused. Courts will continue to hear challenges to the administration’s stop-work order this week, and the broader status of the paused projects is undetermined at this time.