The States of Rhode Island and Connecticut, along with Connecticut’s Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, have filed a complaint in federal court against the United States Department of the Interior and its agencies over the stop-work order issued for the Revolution Wind project. Revolution Wind, located about 15 nautical miles off the Rhode Island coast, is designed to provide 704 MW of power to the New England grid, enough for around 350,000 homes. The project is 80% complete, with turbine foundations installed, most turbines in place, and export cables and substations under construction. Power purchase agreements secure 400 MW for Rhode Island and 304 MW for Connecticut.
The complaint states that the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) ordered Ørsted, the project developer, to halt work on 22 August 2025, citing its regulatory authority but not specifying the concerns prompting the action. The States argue that the order lacked legal or factual justification, contradicts BOEM’s previous approvals, and threatens the project’s viability.
Rhode Island and Connecticut maintain that the project is essential to their statutory renewable energy requirements and greenhouse gas reduction targets. Rhode Island law requires all electricity demand to be met by renewable sources by 2033, while Connecticut has set a 100% emissions-free electricity goal by 2040.
The complaint also highlights the project’s role in supporting grid reliability. The regional operator, ISO-New England, warned that delaying the project would increase risks to electricity supply during peak demand periods. Both States further argue that the halt jeopardises jobs, infrastructure investments, and contracted electricity cost savings.
The lawsuit claims the stop-work order is unlawful under the Administrative Procedure Act and the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, and asks the court to declare the order invalid and allow construction to continue.
