By Abdullahi Lukman
The administration of United States President Donald Trump is seeking to overturn federal approval for the $6.2 billion Revolution Wind project off the coast of Rhode Island, raising fresh uncertainty over a nearly completed offshore wind development expected to supply electricity to about 350,000 homes and businesses.
The U.S. Department of the Interior filed a motion in an ongoing federal lawsuit seeking to return the project’s approval to the agency for further review under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act.
The move could affect the 704-megawatt project, developed by Danish energy company Ørsted, which has been delivering electricity to New England since March and is expected to become fully operational by the end of 2026.
The legal challenge originated in 2024, when the anti-wind group Green Oceans contested federal approval for Revolution Wind and its sister project, South Fork Wind.
The Interior Department argued in its latest filing that the agency’s earlier assessment did not adequately explain how the project accounted for other uses of federal waters, including fishing and recreation.
However, the department clarified that its filing was part of the ongoing legal process and did not represent a new policy announcement. Ørsted had not commented on the latest development at the time of the report.
The dispute follows earlier efforts by the Trump administration to restrict offshore wind development as it pursues policies favouring the expansion of the country’s fossil fuel industry. Federal officials have also raised concerns about the potential effects of wind turbines on military radar operations.
In January, U.S. District Court Judge Royce Lamberth ruled that evidence presented by the federal government concerning military radar interference was insufficient to justify halting construction on a project that had undergone extensive reviews by defence officials and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
The latest filing has drawn concern from industry representatives over the potential impact on investment and regulatory certainty. Erik Milito, president of the National Ocean Industries Association, said predictable approval processes and timely decisions were important for offshore energy development.
He urged officials to resolve the outstanding issues efficiently while construction progresses.
Hillary Bright, executive director of offshore wind advocacy group Turn Forward, also warned that the legal action was creating uncertainty around a project that electricity planners and consumers in the northeastern United States were relying on.
The development comes amid broader discussions in Congress over bipartisan reforms to federal energy permitting rules. Senator Martin Heinrich, who participated in negotiations on the proposed reforms, said the latest dispute highlighted the need for greater certainty in the permitting process and called on the administration to make progress on wind energy approvals.
If the administration succeeds in reversing the project’s approval, the case could have wider implications for renewable energy investment in the United States, particularly for developers concerned about the durability of federal permits after lengthy regulatory reviews.
The outcome of the legal proceedings will determine whether the Interior Department can reopen its review of Revolution Wind’s approval and could influence the regulatory outlook for other offshore wind projects.
