The move comes after the US government suspended leases on all large US offshore wind projects in December.
Danish energy company Ørsted said on Friday that it had launched a legal challenge to the US government’s suspension of its Revolution Wind project off Rhode Island.
Along with its joint-venture partner Skyborn Renewables, Ørsted said in a statement that “litigation is a necessary step to protect the rights of the project”. Revolution Wind is more than 85% complete, with 58 out of 65 wind turbines installed.
The Trump administration suspended leases on all US offshore wind projects in December, citing national security concerns. The move halted work on five sites, including Ørsted’s Revolution Wind and Sunrise Wind farms, as well as sites owned by firms like Equinor and Dominion Energy.
Ørsted’s current legal challenge concerns Revolution Wind, although the company noted that it “continues to evaluate all options” to resume work on Sunrise Wind, a project also located off the New York coast. Ørsted said it was focused on “engagement with relevant agencies and stakeholders” and “considering legal proceedings”.
In its statement on Friday, Ørsted also stressed that Revolution Wind had secured all required federal and state permits in 2023, following extensive reviews that began more than nine years ago. These permits required consultations with the US Department of Defense, resulting in a formal agreement between the state and the energy company.
Even so, the Trump administration is now claiming the offshore wind turbines may interfere with radar systems used to identify moving targets.
The interior department said in December that the pause would give the government “time to work with leaseholders and state partners to assess the possibility of mitigating the national security risks posed by these projects”.
The suspension is part of a long-running crusade by the Trump administration against green energy projects in favour of fossil fuels. The president has referred to renewables as an expensive “scam” and is freezing approvals for solar projects, as well as wind farms.
While supporters argue that such policies will bring down energy costs and bolster national security, experts warn that a failure to invest in clean power will only increase the price of energy in the long run. While pivoting away from fossil fuels carries clear climate benefits, analysts suggest that green energy projects also have the potential to further boost growth and innovation in the US.
In August, the White House ordered Ørsted to halt work on Revolution Wind, although a federal judge ruled in September that work could resume, granting a preliminary injunction. Ørsted is now fighting a different legal challenge to the project.
On Friday afternoon in Copenhagen, shares in Ørsted had risen around 4% on the news.
