Europe's biggest offshore wind developer has launched a legal battle against the Trump administration over the sudden suspension of a multi-billion dollar project off the north-east coast of the United States.
Legal Volley Over "National Security" Freeze
Danish energy giant Ørsted filed a legal challenge on Thursday, seeking to overturn a White House decision made just ten days prior. On 22 December, officials from the US Department of the Interior suspended the leases for five major offshore wind projects, including Ørsted's $5bn Revolution Wind site, citing unspecified "national security risks".
This sweeping move halted all construction of offshore wind in US waters. In a joint statement with its project partner, Skyborn Renewables, Ørsted described the administration's action as a violation of applicable law. The company stated that litigation was essential to protect the project's rights and prevent the "substantial harm" that would result if the suspension remained.
A Pattern of Opposition
The court filing represents the latest clash between the renewables sector and President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly sought to block offshore wind projects since his re-election. A vocal supporter of the fossil fuel industry, Trump has publicly opposed renewable energy, particularly wind power, which he has criticised as "ugly, costly and inefficient".
This is not the first disruption for the Revolution Wind project. In August, the Trump administration issued a "stop-work order", again citing national security concerns. That initial halt sent shockwaves through the industry and pushed Ørsted's market value to record lows. While a federal judge later allowed work to resume, the White House provided no specific details on the alleged security issues.
Project Nears Completion Amid Uncertainty
Despite the political and legal turbulence, physical progress on the wind farm is advanced. Ørsted reports that construction is now almost 90% complete. All offshore foundations are in place, and 58 of the project's 65 turbines have been installed. The site was on track to begin delivering power to US homes by 2026.
The company emphasised that Revolution Wind secured all necessary federal and state permits in 2023, following a review process that spanned more than nine years. The legal challenge appears to have reassured investors somewhat; Ørsted's shares, which had fallen 12% after the 22 December announcement, rose nearly 4% on Friday following news of the court action.
The move has drawn sharp criticism from US politicians supportive of renewable energy. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island accused the administration of a plan to "raise families' energy prices, cut American jobs, [and] turbo charge climate change" through its attack on offshore wind.
