Interior Department moves to reopen Revolution Wind approval, fueling fears of renewed anti-renewables obstruction
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The U.S. Interior Department has asked a federal court to revisit approval of the Revolution Wind offshore project, drawing sharp criticism from Connecticut officials even though the wind farm is already feeding power to New England.
The U.S. Interior Department filed a request on Oct. 9 for a federal court to send the construction and operations plan approval for the Revolution Wind offshore wind farm back to the agency for reconsideration. The 704-megawatt project, which has all 65 turbines installed and began delivering electricity in March 2026, is expected to reach full commercial operation later this year.
The filing challenges whether the original approval complied with the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, citing concerns about impacts on fishing, recreation and other ocean uses. The move arrives after earlier national-security claims used in previous attempts to stop offshore wind construction, underscoring a pattern of bureaucratic resistance to clean energy development.
Connecticut officials warned that reopening approvals could undermine the certainty needed for new electricity supplies. Governor Ned Lamont said the move contradicts the administration’s stated support for permitting reform, while Attorney General William Tong said the state is prepared to return to court to defend the project.
State estimates indicate that by 2028 Revolution Wind could lower wholesale electricity market costs for New England ratepayers by about $500 million annually. The project, developed by Ørsted, supplies power to utilities in Connecticut and Rhode Island under fixed-price, 20-year contracts.
The next decision will be made by U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth, who previously ruled that the Interior Department’s suspension orders were arbitrary and capricious and allowed construction to resume.
"We are complying with a briefing schedule, not announcing a policy change," the Interior Department said in a statement reported by the Connecticut Mirror.
"This makes zero sense," Attorney General William Tong added, signaling the state’s readiness to defend the project in court.