A federal judge reinstates the Revolution Wind project, allowing construction to resume after a Trump administration suspension over national security concerns.
NEW YORK: A US federal judge has cleared the way for a major offshore wind energy project to resume construction in New England.
Judge Royce Lamberth invalidated a Trump administration order that had paused the Revolution Wind project off the coast of Rhode Island.
The order allows the venture “to restart impacted activities immediately,” according to a statement on its website.
“The project will resume construction work as soon as possible, with safety as the top priority,” the statement continued.
The US Interior Department had paused leases for Revolution Wind and four other projects on December 22, citing unspecified national security risks.
In his order, Judge Lamberth wrote that the project was likely to succeed in its underlying legal challenge.
He also stated the venture faced “irreparable harm” without an injunction and that restarting was “in the public interest.”
The wind farm, which is 87% complete, was set to go online this year to power more than 350,000 homes.
Orsted, which holds a 50% stake in the project, said it had received over 20 federal and state approvals.
The venture said it had spent or committed more than $5 billion on the development.
Former President Donald Trump has long criticised wind turbines for ruining views and being expensive.
His administration’s order was part of a broader effort to block new wind farm permits and federal loans for wind energy.
