Five federal judges delivered consecutive defeats to Trump's offshore wind freeze between January 13 and February 2, 2026. All five suspended East Coast projects—Revolution Wind, Empire Wind, Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind, Vineyard Wind, and Sunrise Wind—won preliminary injunctions clearing them to resume construction, representing over $25 billion in investment and 6+ gigawatts of capacity. Judge Brian Murphy's January 27 ruling on Vineyard Wind found the government 'failed to provide a reasonable explanation' for halting the 95%-complete project, calling the action 'likely arbitrary and capricious.' Judge Royce Lamberth's February 2 ruling on Sunrise Wind, the final project at 45% completion, completed the legal sweep. All five projects are now operating under court orders while litigation continues.
Trump has now lost five consecutive legal battles in his 13-month war on offshore wind. A federal judge struck down his January 2025 executive order. He lost a 17-state lawsuit in May. Revolution Wind won two separate court orders—September 2025 and January 2026—after Trump suspended it twice. The Interior Department faces a critical decision: appeal and likely lose again before appellate courts that have shown bipartisan consensus rejecting classified national security claims the Pentagon approved during 2023-2024 environmental reviews, or accept that $25+ billion in sunk costs has become politically impossible to abandon. Dominion revealed the suspension cost over $5 million daily in vessel costs alone. Courts from judges appointed by Reagan, Trump, and Biden have uniformly rejected the administration's radar interference rationale. Projects are resuming construction under court orders while the administration decides whether to pursue appeals or shift strategy to blocking future permitting.
All five offshore wind projects won preliminary injunctions between Jan 13-Feb 2, 2026
6+ GW
Capacity cleared
All suspended projects authorized to resume—enough for 3 million homes
$125M+
Dominion suspension cost
$5M/day for 25 days during December-January legal battle
5
Failed attempts
Executive order struck down, 17-state lawsuit lost, now five more court defeats
95%
Vineyard Wind completion
44 turbines generating 572 MW, final 18 turbines now cleared to finish
0
Projects still suspended
All five won court clearance; construction resuming under preliminary injunctions
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J. P. Morgan
(1837-1913) ·Gilded Age · finance
Fictional AI pastiche — not real quote.
"A man who changes his mind four times on a $20 billion proposition has no business managing a country's affairs—the courts understand what he does not: capital abhors chaos. These judges, whatever their politics, know that contracts and permits are sacred bonds, not playthings for executive whim. When the government's word becomes worthless, so does the nation's credit."
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People Involved
Donald Trump
President of the United States (Lost five consecutive court battles against offshore wind between January 2025 and February 2026 as all five suspended projects cleared to resume; Interior Department facing decision on whether to appeal or shift strategy)
Doug Burgum
Secretary of the Interior (Facing fifth consecutive legal defeat as federal judges uniformly reject offshore wind suspensions; Interior Department deciding whether to appeal or pivot to blocking future permitting)
Maura Healey
Governor of Massachusetts (Won court victory for Vineyard Wind on January 27, clearing final 18 turbines to complete 800 MW project)
Organizations Involved
DO
Dominion Energy
U.S. utility company
Status: Construction resuming after January 16 court victory; project targeting late 2026 completion to deliver 2.6 GW to Virginia grid
Virginia utility with $10.7 billion bet on offshore wind now frozen mid-construction.
ØR
Ørsted A/S
Danish offshore wind developer
Status: Won two consecutive injunctions: Revolution Wind January 13, Sunrise Wind February 2; both projects cleared to resume at advanced completion stages; company seeking expeditious resolution with Trump administration
Europe's offshore wind leader now caught in Trump's crosshairs, twice.
BU
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
Federal Agency
Status: Reversed course from rapid Biden-era approvals to Trump-era suspensions
Federal offshore regulator executing political whiplash in real time.
Timeline
Clean Sweep: Fifth Court Victory for Sunrise Wind
Legal
Federal court grants Sunrise Wind preliminary injunction at February 2 hearing, completing 5-for-5 court victories clearing all suspended projects to resume. Project was 45% complete with 44 of 84 monopiles installed.
Fifth and Final Court Victory: Sunrise Wind Cleared
Legal
U.S. District Court for District of Columbia grants preliminary injunction for Sunrise Wind, allowing Ørsted's 924-MW project to resume construction at 45% completion. Judge Royce Lamberth's ruling completes 5-for-5 court sweep against Trump administration's offshore wind suspension orders.
Third Court Victory: CVOW Cleared to Resume
Legal
U.S. District Judge Jamar Walker (Biden appointee) grants Dominion preliminary injunction, finding suspension order 'overly broad and ill-fitted' with no specific national security explanation for Virginia project. CVOW was 70% complete when halted.
Second Court Victory: Empire Wind Restarts
Legal
Federal judge issues temporary injunction allowing Equinor's Empire Wind to resume construction. Project was 60% complete with $4 billion invested when suspended in December.
First Court Victory: Revolution Wind Cleared Again
Legal
U.S. District Court for District of Columbia grants preliminary injunction for Revolution Wind, allowing Ørsted/Skyborn JV to restart construction at 87% completion with 58 of 65 turbines installed.
Ørsted Files Second Lawsuit for Sunrise Wind
Legal
Sunrise Wind LLC files complaint in U.S. District Court for District of Columbia challenging suspension order. Project was 45% complete with 48 of 84 monopiles installed, targeting October 2026 power generation.
Ørsted Files Supplemental Complaint for Revolution Wind
Legal
Revolution Wind LLC files supplemental complaint challenging December 22 suspension order, arguing project was expected to begin generating power in January 2026.
Dominion Files Federal Lawsuit, Reveals $5M Daily Costs
Legal
Dominion Energy sues Trump administration in U.S. District Court for Eastern District of Virginia, filing motion for temporary restraining order. Complaint reveals suspension costs over $5 million per day in vessel costs alone, with additional expenses for idle crews and stored equipment. Company has spent $8.9 billion on CVOW—over two-thirds of total projected cost.
Four Governors Demand Classified Briefing on Radar Claims
Political
Healey (MA), Hochul (NY), Lamont (CT), McKee (RI) send joint letter to Burgum demanding immediate lifting of suspension and classified briefing to review unexplained national security threats. Letter charges administration is using radar concerns as 'pretextual excuse to justify predetermined outcome consistent with President's frequently stated personal opposition to offshore wind.' Notes projects underwent substantial federal reviews including by Department of Defense.
Vineyard Wind Allowed to Continue Power Generation
Regulatory
Massachusetts Attorney General's office confirms BOEM suspension order allows Vineyard Wind to continue generating electricity from operational turbines. Project currently producing 572 MW while nearly complete, making it only suspended project still delivering power to grid.
Coalition led by Massachusetts, New York attorneys general challenges executive order as arbitrary and unlawful.
Burgum Sworn In as Interior Secretary
Appointment
Former North Dakota governor confirmed 79-18, pledges to divest oil/gas holdings, becomes Trump's 'energy czar'.
Trump Signs Wind Energy Moratorium
Executive Action
Day 1 executive order halts all onshore and offshore wind permits pending federal review.
Dominion Completes First Installation Season
Development
78 monopile foundations and 4 offshore substations installed, CVOW reaches 50% completion on schedule.
Vineyard Wind Blade Catastrophe
Incident
107-meter turbine blade breaks 20 meters from root, scatters fiberglass debris across Nantucket beaches, closes south shore.
BOEM Approves Coastal Virginia Construction
Approval
Federal approval for $10.7 billion Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind, largest US offshore wind project.
Biden Offshore Wind Acceleration
Policy
Biden administration approves 10 commercial projects totaling 15+ GW, holds six lease auctions providing 1.3 million acres.
Dominion Wins Virginia Offshore Lease
Development
First commercial offshore wind lease on East Coast goes to Dominion Energy for area offshore Virginia Beach.
Scenarios
1
Legal Victory Restores Projects Within Months
Discussed by: Environmental Defense Fund, state attorneys general offices, Administrative Procedure Act scholars
States file emergency lawsuit arguing the suspension violates the same laws Trump already lost on in December. A federal judge issues an injunction within 30-60 days, finding Burgum failed to provide reasoned explanation for overturning years of Pentagon reviews that cleared these exact projects. BOEM is ordered to lift suspensions. Projects resume construction by spring 2026, completing with 6-12 month delays and cost overruns in the hundreds of millions.
2
Suspension Extended, Projects Canceled, Billions Lost
Discussed by: Manhattan Institute, offshore wind opponents, fossil fuel industry analysts
Burgum extends the 90-day suspension indefinitely using national security classification to shield from judicial review. Developers face mounting carrying costs on billions in debt. Ørsted and partners walk away from Revolution and Sunrise Wind. Dominion renegotiates CVOW's $10.7 billion budget with Virginia regulators, potentially canceling. Supply chain collapses as specialized vessels and workers move to European projects. US offshore wind industry set back a decade.
Discussed by: Former USS Cole Commander Kirk Lippold, defense policy experts, Congressional Armed Services Committee members
Pentagon officials publicly contradict Burgum's classified claims, pointing to their own 2023-2024 approvals and decades of European military compatibility with offshore wind. Defense Secretary testifies the projects pose no genuine threat. Congressional Republicans split between energy hawks wanting offshore wind for grid reliability and Trump loyalists. Burgum forced to narrow suspension to specific turbine configurations or radar mitigation requirements, allowing most projects to proceed with modifications.
4
Political Backlash in Swing States Forces Retreat
Discussed by: Regional news coverage from Virginia, analysis from swing-state political consultants
Virginia emerges as flashpoint. Republican Governor Youngkin faces pressure as 50%-complete CVOW threatens thousands of union jobs and billions in economic development in Hampton Roads. New York's Long Island representatives from both parties revolt over Sunrise Wind job losses. Trump administration quietly allows projects to restart with face-saving "enhanced monitoring" requirements after 90 days, claiming victory while backing down.
5
Industry Consolidates Legal Challenge, Wins Quick Injunction
Discussed by: Energy law firms, Administrative Procedure Act experts, environmental litigation groups
Dominion's lawsuit becomes vehicle for coordinated industry response. Ørsted, Equinor, and Avangrid join as co-plaintiffs or file friend-of-court briefs. Building on December 8 court victory, plaintiffs argue administration is recycling same unlawful actions under national security pretext. Federal judge grants temporary restraining order within two weeks, citing identical legal defects Judge Saris found in January executive order. Projects restart by mid-January 2026 with administration appeal pending.
6
Clean Sweep: All Five Projects Win Court Clearance Within Weeks
Discussed by: Legal analysts at Inside Climate News, offshore wind industry observers
Building on three consecutive court victories, Vineyard Wind and Sunrise Wind win preliminary injunctions within days. All five projects resume construction by early February. Interior Department faces decision: appeal and likely lose again, or accept defeat and focus on blocking future projects. Industry momentum shifts decisively as $25+ billion in sunk costs becomes politically impossible to abandon.
Discussed by: Administrative law experts, energy policy analysts
Interior Department appeals all three preliminary injunctions to circuit courts, creating uncertainty even as construction proceeds under court orders. Appeals process takes 12-18 months. Projects complete construction during appeals but face ongoing threat of final adverse ruling. Developers operate in legal limbo, unable to secure financing for future projects while Trump's offshore wind war continues through courts.
8
Administration Abandons Appeals, Shifts to Future Permitting Blocks
Discussed by: Energy policy analysts at Bloomberg, administrative law scholars
After five consecutive defeats, Trump administration declines to appeal preliminary injunctions, calculating that appellate courts would likely uphold lower court rulings given bipartisan judicial consensus. Instead, Interior pivots to blocking new offshore wind leases and slowing permitting for future projects through administrative delays and stricter environmental reviews. The five cleared projects complete construction in 2026-2027, but the U.S. offshore wind pipeline beyond them freezes for remainder of Trump's term. Developers shift focus to state waters and international markets.
Historical Context
Cape Wind (Massachusetts, 2001-2017)
2001-2017
What Happened
America's first proposed offshore wind farm became a 16-year legal and political battle. The 130-turbine project in Nantucket Sound faced fierce opposition from Cape Cod residents, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who fought it from his family's estate. Despite federal approval in 2010, opposition from wealthy coastal communities, utilities backing out, and regulatory delays killed the project. It was officially scrapped in 2017.
Outcome
Short Term
Project canceled after $100+ million spent on development, no turbines built.
Long Term
Set US offshore wind back a decade while Europe built 25+ GW of capacity.
Why It's Relevant Today
Shows how political and elite opposition can kill offshore wind despite federal approvals—exactly what Trump is attempting now with national security instead of aesthetics.
European Offshore Wind and Military Radar (2000s-2020s)
2000-2025
What Happened
As Europe built 30+ GW of offshore wind capacity, military radar interference emerged as a solvable engineering problem rather than a dealbreaker. The UK, Germany, Denmark, and Netherlands developed radar mitigation protocols including advanced radar systems, turbine placement coordination, and stealth blade materials. Belgium's Navy recommended shared radar systems and data protocols between military and wind operators. Technical solutions freed 3+ GW of UK offshore capacity once considered blocked.
Outcome
Short Term
Initial projects delayed 1-3 years for radar coordination and mitigation.
Long Term
Radar interference became routine permitting consideration, not grounds for rejection.
Why It's Relevant Today
Pentagon approved these US projects after reviewing European solutions. Burgum's claims ignore decades of proven military-wind coexistence that US defense officials already studied and accepted.
Obama Coal Plant Regulations vs. Trump EPA Reversal (2015-2019)
2015-2019
What Happened
Obama's EPA issued the Clean Power Plan in 2015 to reduce coal plant emissions, spurring utilities to invest billions in natural gas and renewables. Trump's EPA repealed it in 2019 with the Affordable Clean Energy rule. But the economic shift had already happened—utilities didn't rebuild coal plants. Courts struck down Trump's replacement as inadequate. The attempted reversal failed because market forces and billion-dollar investments had moved past the regulatory fight.
Outcome
Short Term
Legal chaos, regulatory uncertainty, some projects delayed.
Long Term
Coal plant retirements continued at same pace regardless of regulations; market economics overrode policy.
Why It's Relevant Today
Trump is again trying to reverse billions in private clean energy investment after construction has started. But you can't un-install 78 monopile foundations. The question is whether developers abandon sunk costs or fight in court.
