New York wades into US offshore wind war

We have just reported that one offshore wind project set aside by the Trump administration has been told it can resume construction.

Work on Revolution Wind in Connecticut, which is being developed by Ørsted and Skyborn Renewables, suspended on 22 December 2025, that is despite being 87% completed.

But on 12 January, a judge in a Washington, DC court overturned the action, calling it ’arbritrary and capricious’ because there was no explanation as to why the action was necessary.

Now, New York’s attorney general has sued the Trump Administration over federal stop-work orders halting two major offshore wind projects critical to the state’s renewable energy supply.

Lawsuits galore

New York Attorney General, Letitia James, has filed two federal lawsuits seeking to block U.S. Department of the Interior orders suspending construction on the Sunrise Wind and Empire Wind offshore wind projects.

The projects, located off Long Island, are expected to power more than one million homes and play a central role in New York’s renewable energy strategy.

“New Yorkers deserve clean, reliable energy, good-paying jobs, and a government that follows the law,” said Attorney General James.

“These projects were carefully reviewed and already under construction when the federal government pulled the plug without explanation.”

The stop-work orders, issued in late December, cited undisclosed national security concerns and require at least a 90-day construction pause.

State officials argue the actions are arbitrary, noting both offshore wind projects underwent more than a decade of federal, state and defence-related reviews before receiving full permits.

No justification

The lawsuits claim the Trump Administration has failed to justify its sudden reversal, in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act.

For the commercial marine sector, the dispute underscores growing regulatory uncertainty around offshore wind development.

The Sunrise Wind and Empire Wind projects together support thousands of jobs, extensive port activity, and billions of dollars in investment across marine construction, vessel operations and supply chains.

New York officials warn that delaying offshore wind infrastructure could weaken grid resilience, prolong reliance on fossil fuels and slow progress toward legally mandated renewable energy targets.

The legal challenge also follows a previous court ruling that struck down a broader federal freeze on wind approvals, intensifying scrutiny of the Trump Administration’s renewable energy policy direction.