Orsted files legal action against Trump administration’s suspension of offshore wind power

January 3, 2026

Danish renewable energy giant Orsted said on Thursday that it launched legal action against US President Donald Trump’s administration over the suspension of its $5 billion Revolution Wind Project. The project was 87 percent complete at the time of suspension, and Orsted expected it to start generating power as early as January 2026. The company stated:

While Revolution Wind continues to seek to work constructively with the Administration and other stakeholders towards an expeditious and durable resolution of this matter, it believes that the lease suspension order violates applicable law. As was the case with the August 2025 stop-work order … As a result, litigation is a necessary step to protect the rights of the Project.

The US Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) issued the suspension order on December 22, 2025. BOEM suspended five large-scale offshore wind projects, citing national security concerns. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum justified the move by stating:

Today’s action addresses emerging national security risks, including the rapid evolution of the relevant adversary technologies, and the vulnerabilities created by large-scale offshore wind projects with proximity near our east coast population centers. The Trump administration will always prioritize the security of the American people.

Revolution Wind filed a supplemental complaint on Thursday, challenging the lease suspension order issued by the BOEM in December. Additionally, Orsted stated that a preliminary injunction will follow the supplemental complaint. Should the preliminary injunction be ruled in favor of Revolution Wind, the lease suspension will be suspended until the resolution of the initial court filing.

On September 4, 2025, Revolution Wind LLC filed initial court proceedings seeking injunctive relief against the BOEM’s August 2025 stop-work order. If the court rules in favor of Revolution Wind, the stop-work order will be reversed.

Revolution Wind LCC is a 50/50 joint venture between the Danish renewable energy giant, Orsted, and Skyborn Renewables, an offshore wind power developer owned by Blackrock. Orsted claims that the project will provide power to more than 350,000 homes in Connecticut and Rhode Island. Furthermore, Revolution Wind states that the project supports more than 2000 jobs and has received more than $100 million in investments.

Sunrise Wind LLC, a separate project by Orsted, also received a lease suspension order on December 22, 2025. Orsted stated that Sunrise continues to evaluate all options to resolve the matter and is considering legal proceedings.