US court authorizes the resumption of a major Orsted wind farm project

This is a blow to the Trump administration, which at the end of December ordered the suspension of all major offshore wind projects, citing "threats to national security", without further details.

Judge Royce Lamberth's decision was made in summary proceedings and therefore does not address the merits of the case.

In the emergency application filed with the magistrate in early January, Orsted reported that the Revolution Wind project was 87% complete. A few turbines remained to be installed, but all the infrastructure for connecting to the grid was finished.

Once operational, the field was expected to power more than 350.000 homes in Rhode Island and Connecticut.

Orsted said it had already invested or set aside more than five billion dollars for this project, the construction of which began in August 2023 and which was expected to be online in 2026.

Even before taking office, Donald Trump had publicly displayed his hostility towards wind power, which he described as an "economic and environmental disaster".

Several studies have nevertheless shown that wind power in the United States cost, on average, less than several other sources, including coal, excluding government subsidies.

The US president also criticized the unsightly appearance of wind turbines and the alleged harm they cause to whales. However, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has stated that no link has been established between offshore wind farms and cetacean deaths.

In January 2025, Donald Trump issued a first executive order prohibiting the granting of new permits for the offshore installation of wind farms in waters under federal jurisdiction.

In early December, a federal judge in Massachusetts declared the decree illegal.

At the end of December, the Trump administration went further by ordering the suspension of all ongoing wind power projects, a decision on which Judge Lamberth ruled on Monday.

"Revolution Wind will determine how it may be possible to collaborate with the US government to reach a quick and sustainable solution," the group responded in a statement, announcing that "the project (would) resume construction as soon as possible."

Revolution is a joint venture jointly controlled by Orsted and the German offshore wind specialist Skyborn Renewables, a subsidiary of the American investment company Global Infrastructure Partners.

Orsted is also involved in the development of another major field, called Sunrise Wind, off the coast of Long Island, which is expected to supply up to 600.000 homes in New York State.

The Danish group has also initiated proceedings against the US government regarding this project, which is nearly 45% complete and scheduled to be operational in 2027.