States, firm challenge Trump wind farm stoppage

Rhode Island, Connecticut and an Orsted-backed wind farm venture are suing the Trump administration in an effort to revive construction of an almost-finished offshore project meant to provide power to the two New England states.

- BY ERIK LARSON AND GEORGIA HALL

REVOLUTION Wind wants to finish an offshore wind farm that it says is 80% complete. Above, the construction hub in Providence, R.I.

Revolution Wind, co-owned by Orsted and Global Infrastructure Partners, sued Thursday morning in federal court in Washington, hours before the two New England states announced a lawsuit of their own.

The cases kick off a major legal battle over a flurry of recent orders reflecting President Trump's longstanding antipathy to wind power. The orders threaten billions of dollars of investments, hundreds of jobs and new power supplies.

At a news conference announcing the states’ lawsuit, Connecticut Atty. Gen. William Tong blasted what he described as Trump's "all-out war" on wind power.

“This is an utterly unlawful and baseless — and, frankly, senseless and stupid — stop-work order,” said Tong, a Democrat.

Taylor Rogers, a White House spokeswoman, said in a statement that wind farms were unfairly given preferential treatment by the Biden administration.

"President Trump’s day one executive order instructed agencies to review leases and permitting practices for wind projects with consideration for our country’s growing demands for reliable energy, effects on energy costs for American families, the importance of marine life and fishing industry, and the impacts on ocean currents and wind patterns," Rogers said.