At a Glance
- Three offshore wind developers filed lawsuits after the Department of Interior halted five projects worth $25 billion on December 22
- The projects would generate 6 gigawatts of electricity combined
- Dominion Energy claims it’s losing $5 million per day from the halt
- Why it matters: The legal battle could determine the future of offshore wind development and billions in clean energy investments
Three major offshore wind developers have filed lawsuits against the Trump administration after the Department of the Interior abruptly halted construction on five projects worth a combined $25 billion. The decision, made on December 22, has sparked a legal showdown that could reshape America’s renewable energy landscape.
The Lawsuits
Ørsted and Equinor filed lawsuits on Thursday and Friday last week, challenging the halt of their projects. Ørsted is developing the 704-megawatt Revolution Wind project, while Equinor is behind the 2-gigawatt Empire Wind. Both projects were well underway when construction was stopped.
Dominion Energy filed its lawsuit on December 23, contesting the halt of its 2.6-gigawatt Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project.
Project Progress
The halted projects vary significantly in their completion status:
- Revolution Wind: Nearly 90% complete
- Empire Wind: About 60% complete
- Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind: Approximately 60% complete
Dominion Energy has been particularly vocal about the financial impact, stating it’s hemorrhaging $5 million daily due to the construction freeze.
National Security Concerns
The Department of Interior cited unspecified national security concerns in halting the projects. While no specifics were mentioned, the administration appears to be referencing how wind turbines can interfere with radar operations.
The Department of Energy had acknowledged this issue in a February 2024 report, which discussed both the security challenges and potential solutions. Wind turbines’ rotating blades can create radar interference, though this problem has been studied by government and private researchers for over a decade.
Mitigation Efforts
Multiple strategies exist to address radar interference from offshore wind farms:
- Site selection: Careful placement is the primary mitigation method
- Radar adaptations: Newer systems can filter wind farm noise using adaptive processing
- Operational coordination: Projects can modify operations when requested
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management works with the Military Aviation and Installation Assurance Siting Clearinghouse to review each proposed offshore wind project individually, attempting to resolve military and aviation concerns.
Vineyard Wind 1 exemplifies how developers and the Pentagon can reach agreements. The project agreed to fund radar adaptations and curtail operations when requested by military officials.
Legal Precedents
This isn’t the first time the Trump administration has clashed with offshore wind developers. Earlier last year, approvals for new offshore wind projects were halted entirely.
The administration previously paused work on both Empire Wind and Revolution Wind. However, Revolution Wind restarted after negotiations between New York State and the Trump administration, while a federal judge later struck down the stop-work order for the project.
Avangrid, developer of Vineyard Wind 1, has not yet filed a lawsuit regarding the current halt. Nearly half of that project is currently operational.
Key Takeaways
- Three lawsuits challenge the Trump administration’s halt of $25 billion in offshore wind projects
- The projects would generate 6 gigawatts of clean electricity combined
- Dominion Energy loses $5 million daily from the construction freeze
- National security concerns center on radar interference from wind turbines
- Previous Trump administration halts were successfully challenged in court
The legal battle highlights the ongoing tension between renewable energy development and national security concerns, with billions of dollars and America’s clean energy future hanging in the balance.
