Trump goes after an offshore wind farm that’s already up and running

The Trump administration is trying to unwind a key federal permit for Revolution Wind, an offshore wind farm off Connecticut and Rhode Island that is already running. The $6.2 billion project finished installing its 65th turbine in September and began generating power in March. Despite that, the Interior Department asked a federal court on October 9 for permission to send its 2023 approval of the project's construction and operations plan back for reevaluation.

The move comes out of a lawsuit filed in January 2024 by Green Oceans, an anti-wind group, which claims the government cut corners and broke environmental law when it approved Revolution Wind and another Ørsted project, South Fork Wind, off New York. Interior's new filing essentially agrees with that challenge and asks the judge to close the case. Experts say this won't immediately stop the wind farm's operations, and the legal process could stretch into early next year.

For homeowners in the Northeast, the stakes are practical. Once fully running, Revolution Wind is meant to supply enough power for more than 350,000 homes and help ease strain on the regional grid during heat waves and cold snaps, which can affect electricity reliability and prices. Advocates warn that reopening a permit this late adds uncertainty for a project the region is counting on. There's no immediate change to your electricity service, but the case is one more sign that offshore wind's role in the Northeast's power supply remains contested.