Five federal judges delivered consecutive defeats to Trump's offshore wind freeze between January 13 and February 2, 2026, granting preliminary injunctions to all five East Coast projects—Revolution Wind, Empire Wind, Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind, Vineyard Wind, Sunrise Wind—representing over $25 billion in investment and 6+ gigawatts of capacity. All five projects are now operating under court orders.
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 the 45%-complete Sunrise Wind completed the legal sweep.
Trump has lost five consecutive legal battles in his 13-month war on offshore wind. These include a struck-down January 2025 executive order, a lost 17-state lawsuit in May, and two separate court orders against Revolution Wind after he suspended it twice.
The Interior Department now faces a choice: appeal and likely lose again before appellate courts that have bipartisan consensus, or accept that $25+ billion in sunk costs makes abandonment impossible. Courts from judges appointed by Reagan, Trump, and Biden have uniformly rejected the national security claims the Pentagon approved during 2023-2024 environmental reviews. Dominion reported the suspension cost $5 million daily in vessel costs, while projects resume under court orders as 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
Voices
Curated perspectives — historical figures and your fellow readers.
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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24 events
Latest: February 2nd, 2026 · 4 months ago
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February 2026
Clean Sweep: Fifth Court Victory for Sunrise Wind
LatestLegal
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.
January 2026
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.
February 2025
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'.
January 2025
Trump Signs Wind Energy Moratorium
Executive Action
Day 1 executive order halts all onshore and offshore wind permits pending federal review.
November 2024
Dominion Completes First Installation Season
Development
78 monopile foundations and 4 offshore substations installed, CVOW reaches 50% completion on schedule.
July 2024
Vineyard Wind Blade Catastrophe
Incident
107-meter turbine blade breaks 20 meters from root, scatters fiberglass debris across Nantucket beaches, closes south shore.
January 2024
BOEM Approves Coastal Virginia Construction
Approval
Federal approval for $10.7 billion Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind, largest US offshore wind project.
2021-20
Biden Offshore Wind Acceleration
Policy
Biden administration approves 10 commercial projects totaling 15+ GW, holds six lease auctions providing 1.3 million acres.
November 2013
Dominion Wins Virginia Offshore Lease
Development
First commercial offshore wind lease on East Coast goes to Dominion Energy for area offshore Virginia Beach.
Historical Context
3 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.
1 of 3
2001-2017
Cape Wind (Massachusetts, 2001-2017)
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.
Then
Project canceled after $100+ million spent on development, no turbines built.
Now
Set US offshore wind back a decade while Europe built 25+ GW of capacity.
Why this matters now
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.
2 of 3
2000-2025
European Offshore Wind and Military Radar (2000s-2020s)
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.
Then
Initial projects delayed 1-3 years for radar coordination and mitigation.
Now
Radar interference became routine permitting consideration, not grounds for rejection.
Why this matters now
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.
3 of 3
2015-2019
Obama Coal Plant Regulations vs. Trump EPA Reversal (2015-2019)
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.
Then
Legal chaos, regulatory uncertainty, some projects delayed.
Now
Coal plant retirements continued at same pace regardless of regulations; market economics overrode policy.
Why this matters now
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.
