US tells Orsted to halt work on offshore wind project off Rhode Island

23/8/2025 11:55

The Trump administration on Friday ordered Denmark's Orsted to stop construction on an offshore wind project near Rhode Island that is 80% complete, according to a letter posted on the website of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.



The move is the administration's latest effort to hinder U.S. renewable energy development and is the second time this year the Interior Department, which oversees BOEM, has halted work on a major offshore wind project.



"Orsted is evaluating all options to resolve the matter expeditiously," the company said in a statement, adding that it was reviewing the financial implications of the order and was considering legal action.



On his first day in office in January, President Donald Trump suspended new offshore wind leasing pending an environmental and economic review of projects. He has repeatedly criticized wind energy as ugly, unreliable and expensive.



Revolution Wind is a $1.5 billion project that was scheduled to be completed next year and expected to produce enough electricity to power 350,000 homes in Rhode Island and Connecticut.