The U.S. Department of Interior filed a motion in federal court Oct. 9 in connection with a 2024 lawsuit by Green Oceans, an anti-wind energy group, that challenged approvals for Revolution Wind and South Fork Wind, two Ørsted off southern New England.
In a federal court filing on Friday, attorneys representing the U.S. Department of the Interior sought permission to rescind the agency’s three-year-old approval for the construction of the Revolution Wind project, which is now nearing completion.
The filing was made in a lawsuit filed in 2024 by Green Oceans, an anti-wind energy group, challenging the federal government’s approval of permits for Revolution Wind.
“The Department of the Interior agrees that remand of its prior approval of the construction and operations plan (“COP”) for the Revolution Wind Project is warranted so that the agency can reevaluate its compliance with the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act,” the filing states. “Given that remand, the Court need not reach Plaintiffs’ other claims challenging Interior’s COP approval.”
The 704-megawatt turbine array is on track to begin producing full power by the end of 2026, with contracts for utilities in Connecticut and Rhode Island.
The motion by Interior Department lawyers comes after other administration attempts to derail wind power projects approved by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management during the Biden administration.
That drive has had mixed success in federal courts. In the Green Oceans/Revolution Wind case, Judge Royce C. Lamberth of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, has reprieved Revolution Wind twice from the administration’s efforts to stop work on the project.
The Trump administration has had more success blocking projects that have not started construction, in several cases buying out wind developers so they abandon plans.
The grinding fight has alarmed both wind energy advocates and traditional offshore energy developers. Bipartisan legislation in proposed in Congress to speed permitting for energy infrastructure projects, including wind.
On Monday National Ocean Industries Association president Erik Milito called on Congress to move on permitting legislation, after news of the new attempt to stop Revolution Wind.
“Predictable regulatory processes and timely decisions are important for offshore energy development of all kinds,” Milito said. “We recognize the federal government’s responsibility to review projects and ensure compliance with applicable requirements, and we hope the remaining process can move forward efficiently while Revolution Wind continues progressing toward full operations.”
“The second-guessing of federal approvals that have already gone through a lengthy review process is precisely why Congress must pass comprehensive permitting reform legislation, specifically the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act.”
