Revolution Wind, Rhode Island’s first large-scale offshore wind project, was ordered to stop construction Friday under a federal directive from the Donald Trump administration. The project, already 80% complete with 45 of 65 turbines installed off Block Island, was expected to power 350,000 homes across Rhode Island and Connecticut by 2026.
The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management cited Trump’s January order pausing offshore wind reviews, referencing “national security” and interference with maritime use. Orsted, the Danish co-developer, said it would comply while pursuing regulatory or legal options to continue construction.
Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee (D) called the move a threat to jobs and energy affordability, while Attorney General Peter Neronha said it could derail the state’s net-zero climate goals, calling the decision “bizarre.” The state’s federal delegation also condemned the halt as “unwarranted and unacceptable.”
The stoppage follows long-running disputes between wind developers and fishing groups concerned about safety and livelihoods. Despite previous approvals, rising costs and federal resistance now cast uncertainty on the project’s future.
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