Orsted Revolution Wind Construction Resumes After Court Ruling
- A United States district court judge has issued an injunction allowing Danish renewable energy company Orsted to restart construction on the Revolution Wind offshore wind farm.
- The Interior department's stop-work order represented a important challenge to the burgeoning U.S.
- Revolution Wind is fully permitted and over 80% complete.
Federal Judge Allows Offshore Wind Farm Construction to Resume
A United States district court judge has issued an injunction allowing Danish renewable energy company Orsted to restart construction on the Revolution Wind offshore wind farm. The project, located off the coasts of Rhode Island and Connecticut, had been halted by the Interior Department on August 22, 2024.
Background to the Dispute
The Interior department’s stop-work order represented a important challenge to the burgeoning U.S. offshore wind industry. Orsted and its partner, Skyborn Renewables, argued the order was “arbitrary, capricious, unlawful and issued in bad faith,” and immediately sought legal recourse in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.
Revolution Wind is fully permitted and over 80% complete. Once operational, the wind farm is projected to generate enough electricity to power more than 350,000 homes.
Court Ruling and Next Steps
The judge granted the injunction request, permitting construction to resume while a full opinion detailing the legal reasoning is prepared. This decision marks a setback for efforts to curtail offshore wind development.
As of September 22, 2024, the full opinion from the court has not yet been released. This remains a developing story, and further updates will be provided as they become available.