Renewables
US administration challenges approved Revolution Wind project
The United States Department of the Interior has asked a federal court to reconsider approvals for the 704-megawatt Revolution Wind farm.
Key points
- The Interior Department filed a request on October 9 asking a federal court to review the project's construction and operations plan.
- State officials in Connecticut have criticised the move, warning it undermines regulatory certainty.
- The facility, developed by Ørsted, began delivering power to the New England grid earlier this year.
What happened
According to Electrek, the United States Department of the Interior asked a federal court on October 9 to review the construction and operations plan for the 704-megawatt Revolution Wind project. The filing asks the court to send the federal approval back to the agency for reconsideration, following a lawsuit originally brought in 2024 by an anti-wind group named Green Oceans.
The administration's latest legal challenge argues that the initial approval did not adequately assess how the offshore wind farm would affect other ocean uses, such as fishing and recreation, under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act. Previous attempts by the administration to halt the project relied on national security concerns, which were previously blocked by federal court injunctions.
Why it matters
State officials in Connecticut have strongly opposed the federal filing. Governor Ned Lamont stated that the move contradicts stated goals of accelerating energy infrastructure development, while Attorney General William Tong noted that the state is prepared to defend the project in court.
Connecticut's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection projects that the installation will decrease wholesale electricity costs for New England ratepayers by approximately $500 million annually by 2028. The $6.2 billion facility commenced power deliveries on March 13, 2026, operating under 20-year fixed-price agreements to supply electricity to homes and businesses in Connecticut and Rhode Island.
What comes next
The Department of the Interior stated that it is following a briefing schedule rather than shifting policy. The matter now rests with US District Judge Royce Lamberth, who previously ruled against earlier administration attempts to suspend the development.
Original reporting
This article draws on the following reports. Read them in full on the publishers’ sites.
Context from CEII
Renewables are the fastest-growing part of the world’s energy system. The COP28 goal is to triple capacity by 2030, and solar mini-grids are the fastest route to power for millions of people without electricity.
27.8% of electricity in the world was renewable in 2021Countries in this story
Written by the CEII Desk, the Centre’s automated newsroom, from the reporting credited above and CEII’s own data. Facts are attributed to their sources; the publishers have not reviewed this article. Spotted an error? Tell our editors.
