Offshore Wind: US Judge Clears Ørsted Project to Resume

Published: 13 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online.

A US judge has permitted Danish developer Ørsted to resume its Rhode Island offshore wind project halted last month. The decision represents a legal defeat for former President Trump, whose administration had paused Ørsted’s Revolution Wind project, along with four others, citing national security concerns. The focus keyword offshore wind appears early as the ruling directly affects the expansion of offshore wind projects in federal waters. Judge Royce Lamberth concluded the government had not provided sufficient justification to halt construction, noting the project would suffer irreparable harm without immediate relief.

The ruling came after Ørsted filed a lawsuit challenging the December suspension of five offshore wind leases by the Department of the Interior. Government attorneys defended the pause, claiming new classified information from the Pentagon indicated national security risks from offshore wind developments. Lamberth rejected these claims, stating that halting construction without proper review unfairly penalised developers and risked significant financial losses. “You want to stop everything in place, costing them one-and-a-half million a day, while you decide what you want to do?” the judge asked government counsel during proceedings.

Ørsted’s legal team argued that the pause violated federal administrative procedure and due process. Attorney Janice Schneider emphasised that Ørsted had not been allowed access to the classified assessment regarding offshore wind impacts. She suggested the administration’s motives were suspect, and that the injunction was essential to prevent disruption of a project already nearing completion. The Revolution Wind project, currently 87% finished, is expected to begin generating electricity this year, according to Ørsted statements.

Revolution Wind LLC is a joint venture between Ørsted and Global Infrastructure Partners’ Skyborn Renewables. Ørsted is also pursuing legal action regarding its Sunrise Wind project off New York. Offshore wind developers have faced repeated interruptions under Trump, who publicly criticised the technology as inefficient and unattractive, affecting multibillion-dollar investments along the US coast.

Monday’s hearing marked the first of three preliminary injunction sessions scheduled this week in cases challenging the offshore wind suspension. Other hearings involve Equinor’s Empire Wind off New York and Dominion’s Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind facility. Analysts suggest that these rulings could set a precedent for how courts evaluate federal pauses on energy infrastructure projects, particularly when national security claims are classified and not fully disclosed to affected companies.

Ørsted’s resumption of Revolution Wind signals confidence in the judicial system to balance federal oversight with private sector development. It highlights the growing importance of offshore wind as a clean energy source in the United States, contributing to renewable energy targets and regional economic benefits. Legal observers note that the case could influence the Biden administration’s broader renewable energy agenda, as it seeks to expand offshore wind capacity along the Atlantic seaboard.

The decision also underscores the tension between administrative authority and procedural fairness. By allowing the project to proceed, Lamberth emphasised the need for government transparency and the protection of private investment from abrupt federal interventions. Ørsted representatives welcomed the ruling, affirming their commitment to completing Revolution Wind and supplying clean energy to Rhode Island communities.

Industry experts anticipate that the project’s progress will reassure investors and may accelerate offshore wind development in the region. Ørsted’s ability to resume work despite political opposition demonstrates the judiciary’s role in safeguarding contractual and environmental initiatives, balancing national security considerations with renewable energy expansion. The outcome of upcoming hearings for Empire Wind and Coastal Virginia projects will be closely watched, as they may determine the scope of federal oversight on offshore wind development for years to come.

The ruling is seen as a positive development for renewable energy advocates who have argued that offshore wind projects are crucial to meeting carbon reduction goals. It also emphasizes the complex intersection of politics, energy policy, and legal accountability in the United States, showcasing how courts can influence infrastructure projects with significant economic and environmental impacts. Ørsted’s experience may serve as a model for other developers navigating legal and regulatory challenges while pursuing offshore wind initiatives.

As construction resumes, Revolution Wind is expected to create jobs, enhance local supply chains, and contribute to the United States’ clean energy targets. The project’s advancement reflects ongoing confidence in the viability and necessity of offshore wind as a major component of the national energy portfolio. Legal experts highlight the importance of maintaining procedural integrity in federal actions affecting energy infrastructure, ensuring that national security claims are transparent and justified.

The judge’s decision confirms that offshore wind projects can proceed despite political controversies, reinforcing confidence in renewable energy investments. Ørsted remains poised to complete Revolution Wind, bolstering the United States’ efforts to transition to cleaner power sources. This ruling may also influence broader debates over federal authority, environmental policy, and the role of judicial oversight in critical infrastructure projects.

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