Selcuk Uysal
13 January 2026•Update: 13 January 2026
ANKARA
A US federal judge has allowed Danish offshore wind developer Orsted to restart work on its nearly completed Revolution Wind project, overturning a halt imposed by the Trump administration over national security concerns.
The Revolution Wind farm, located about 15 miles south of Rhode Island in federal waters, is approximately 87-90% complete and was scheduled to begin delivering electricity to Rhode Island and Connecticut this year.
In December 2025, the Trump administration suspended five major East Coast offshore wind projects, citing classified Pentagon information that allegedly raised national security risks. These concerns reportedly included potential interference with military radar systems, surveillance activities by the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), and the possibility of adversary technologies operating near densely populated areas. Specific details, however, were not made public.
US District Judge Royce Lamberth rejected the administration’s justification, ruling that the suspension violated administrative and due process requirements. He said the pause would cause irreparable harm to Orsted, which faces daily losses estimated at $1.5 million.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly voiced strong opposition to wind energy. Speaking during a White House meeting with oil executives on Jan. 9, 2026, he said: “I’ve told my people we will not approve windmills.”
Trump has described wind turbines as costly, inefficient and damaging to landscapes and wildlife, pledging to block new approvals during his presidency. The administration’s 2025 pause on multiple offshore wind projects aligns with that long-standing stance.
Orsted said it would immediately resume construction on Revolution Wind to deliver affordable clean energy to the northeastern US, while continuing its legal challenge.
The Denmark-based renewable energy company has invested heavily in offshore wind projects in the US as part of its global expansion strategy but has faced mounting regulatory challenges under the current administration, which remains strongly opposed to offshore wind development.
