Judges Allow East Coast Wind Farms to Resume Work After Trump Halt

Three big offshore wind projects on the US East Coast are back to building after federal judges blocked a Trump administration order to stop them. The projects, Empire Wind off New York, Revolution Wind off Rhode Island and Connecticut, and Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind off Virginia, had been paused in December over national security issues. Judges in Washington DC and Virginia issued orders this week letting work go forward while lawsuits play out.

Background

Offshore wind farms are key to East Coast states' plans to switch to cleaner power. These giant turbines in the ocean can generate a lot of electricity without taking up land, which is hard to find in crowded areas. States like New York, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Virginia have pushed hard for them to cut down on fossil fuels and meet climate goals.

The Trump administration stepped in just before Christmas. The Department of the Interior sent stop-work orders to five projects, saying they raised national security risks. Officials pointed to possible interference with radar systems from the spinning blades. The pause lasted at least 90 days and hit projects that were already well underway.

Developers like Equinor for Empire Wind, Orsted for Revolution Wind, and Dominion Energy for Coastal Virginia sued right away. They said the orders came without enough warning or proof, and that stopping work could ruin the projects due to tight schedules and special equipment needs. States joined some suits, arguing the farms are vital for their energy needs.

Judges heard cases quickly. On Monday, a judge let Revolution Wind restart. Thursday brought a win for Empire Wind. Friday saw Coastal Virginia get the green light. Two others, Sunrise Wind off New York and Vineyard Wind off Massachusetts, are still waiting on their court dates.

President Trump has spoken against offshore wind before. He called wind farms noisy bird killers that ruin views and lose money. His team tied the pauses to a January 2025 memo pulling back ocean areas from new leases, though these projects already had approvals.

Key Details

Empire Wind Ruling

Empire Wind, run by Norwegian firm Equinor, sits about 20 miles off New York's south shore. At 60% done, it aims to power over 500,000 homes. A federal judge in Washington DC, Carl J. Nichols—a Trump appointee—issued a preliminary injunction on Thursday. He said the government did not answer key points in Equinor's filing, like claims the order broke procedures.

During a hearing, the judge questioned why security worries focused on operations, not building. Equinor warned that delays from missing specialized ships could doom the project. The company lost money already and faces weather windows that close soon.

"We welcome the court's decision and will continue to work in collaboration with the U.S. government to ensure the safe, secure, and responsible implementation of our operations." – David Schoetz, Equinor spokesperson

Revolution Wind Decision

Revolution Wind, by Danish company Orsted, is nearly finished. It will supply about 20% of Rhode Island's power and 5% of Connecticut's. A senior judge ruled Monday that the government did not explain why a full stop was needed. Construction restarted right away.

Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind

Off Virginia, Dominion Energy's project has 176 turbines planned to power 660,000 homes. Building started in early 2024. A Virginia judge granted an injunction Friday, calling the order too broad. Dominion says it needs to restart fast to feed growing demand from data centers.

The government argued security risks are real, like with any big build that could affect defense. One lawyer compared it to halting a nuclear plant. Opponents, like a New Jersey group, back the pause and want appeals to keep work halted.

What This Means

These court wins let thousands of workers return to sites. Union leaders cheered the rulings, as they mean jobs for builders. Revolution Wind could deliver power soon, helping states hit renewable targets. Empire and Coastal Virginia are set to add gigawatts to the grid, easing pressure from rising energy use.

For the power grid, this matters a lot. East Coast faces more demand from electric cars, factories, and data centers. Offshore wind fills gaps where sun and land wind fall short. If all five projects finish, they could generate 6 gigawatts—enough for millions of homes.

Legal fights continue. The administration may appeal, seeking to pause work again at higher courts. Developers must prove in full trials that orders were unlawful. Sunrise Wind has a hearing February 2. Vineyard Wind just filed suit.

States keep pushing. New York and others say reliable clean power cuts bills long-term and fights high utility costs. Security fixes, like better radar tech, were already in permitting talks. Developers promise to work with defense officials.

Opponents worry about views, fishing, and wildlife. Groups in New Jersey fight hard against nearby farms. They say blades kill birds and whales, though studies show impacts can be managed.

The rulings show courts willing to check quick government moves on energy projects. Developers turned to judges fast, winning temporary relief. Full outcomes could shape how federal power handles renewables under Trump.

Union president Sean McGarvey said the decisions get workers back on the job. Equinor's Molly Morris stressed delivering power to New York. A New York group called it good news for consumers facing high bills.

As cases drag on, projects race weather and costs. Specialized ships cost millions a day. Delays mean higher prices passed to ratepayers. Success here could speed other US wind farms, boosting the shift to green energy.