On December 22, 2025, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum paused every major offshore wind farm under construction off the East Coast. Vineyard Wind, Revolution Wind, Sunrise Wind, Empire Wind, and Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind—representing $28 billion in investment and enough power for millions of homes—all stopped work on orders from Washington citing radar interference and national security risks near military installations.
By February 2, 2026, all five projects had won preliminary injunctions allowing construction to resume: Revolution Wind (87% complete), Empire Wind (60% complete), Coastal Virginia (70% complete), Vineyard Wind (95% complete, already generating power), and finally Sunrise Wind. Judges across three districts—including Reagan, Trump, and Biden appointees—ruled the Interior's suspension 'arbitrary and capricious' for failing to justify complete halts after years of Defense Department approvals. As of February 10, 2026, the Trump administration has filed no appeals on any of the five losses, though it retains power to block future permits and lease sales.
Click a figure to generate their perspective on this story
Debate Arena
Two rounds, two personas, one winner. You set the crossfire.
Choose Your Battle
Watch two AI personas debate this story using real evidence
Make predictions and set the crossfire to earn XP and cred
Select Your Champions
Choose one persona for each side of the debate
DEBATE TOPIC
SIDE A (PRO)
Select debater for this side:
✓
SIDE B (CON)
Select debater for this side:
✓
Choose personas with different perspectives for a more dynamic debate
VS
Get ready to make your prediction...
Round of
Claim
Evidence
Stakes
Crossfire Answer
Closing Statement
Claim
Evidence
Stakes
Crossfire Answer
Closing Statement
Your Crossfire Question
Generating arguments...
Who's Got This Round?
Make your prediction before the referee scores
Correct predictions earn +20 XP
Evidence
40%
Logic
30%
Detail
20%
Style
10%
Round Results
Your Pick!
+20 XP
Your Pick
Not this time
Evidence (40%)
Logic (30%)
Detail (20%)
Style (10%)
Overall Score
/10
Your Pick!
+20 XP
Your Pick
Not this time
Evidence (40%)
Logic (30%)
Detail (20%)
Style (10%)
Overall Score
/10
Set the Crossfire
Pick the question both personas must answer in the final round
Crafting crossfire questions...
Choosing a question earns +10 XP crossfire bonus
🏆
Total XP Earned
Cred Change
Predictions
Debate Oracle! You called every round!
Sharp Instincts! You know your debaters!
The Coin Flip Strategist! Perfectly balanced!
The Contrarian! Bold predictions!
Inverse Genius! Try betting the opposite next time!
XP Breakdown
Base completion+20 XP
Rounds played ( rounds x 5 XP)
+ XP
Correct predictions ( correct x 20 XP)
+ XP
Crossfire bonus+10 XP
Accuracy
%
Prediction History
Round
You picked:
✓✗
Keep debating to level up your credibility and unlock achievements
Who Said What?
WHO SAID WHAT?
Can you match the quotes to the right people?
Rounds
People
Score:
Round /
streak
-- ?
Score:
Round /
streak
Next Up
Round
of
points
Correct
Best Streak
Time Bonus
People Involved
Doug Burgum
U.S. Secretary of the Interior (Lost all five preliminary injunction hearings; no appeals filed as of February 10; judges across political spectrum questioned national security rationale as pretextual)
Donald Trump
President of the United States (Delivered on campaign promise to end offshore wind)
Chuck Schumer
U.S. Senate Majority Leader (Leading Democratic opposition to offshore wind pause)
Jennifer Kiggans
U.S. Representative, Virginia's 2nd District (Republican criticizing offshore wind pause despite party alignment)
Jamar Walker
U.S. District Judge, Eastern District of Virginia (Granted Dominion's preliminary injunction on January 16, allowing Coastal Virginia construction to resume)
Letitia James
New York Attorney General (Filed separate lawsuits on January 9 supporting Empire and Sunrise Wind, arguing stop-work orders violate Administrative Procedure Act)
Maura Healey
Governor of Massachusetts (Part of four-state coalition demanding classified briefing on wind pause)
Kathy Hochul
Governor of New York (Part of four-state coalition challenging offshore wind pause)
Ned Lamont
Governor of Connecticut (Part of four-state coalition opposing offshore wind freeze)
Daniel McKee
Governor of Rhode Island (Part of four-state coalition challenging wind pause)
Pete Hegseth
U.S. Secretary of Defense (Recipient of four-state governors' demand for classified briefing)
Organizations Involved
ØR
Ørsted A/S
Danish offshore wind developer
Status: All projects (Revolution Wind, Sunrise Wind) won preliminary injunctions; construction resumed on both after February 2 ruling
World's largest offshore wind developer, heavily bet on U.S. expansion.
DO
Dominion Energy
U.S. utility company
Status: Coastal Virginia construction resumed after January 16 injunction; nation's largest offshore wind project (2.6 GW) on track for 2026 completion
Virginia utility developing nation's largest offshore wind farm.
AV
Avangrid
Utility Holding Company
Status: Won January 27 preliminary injunction for Vineyard Wind (95% complete, already generating power); construction resumed, racing to meet March 31 vessel deadline
Developing Vineyard Wind with Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners.
U.
U.S. Department of Defense
Federal Agency
Status: Coordinating national security review with Interior
Pentagon flagged radar interference as basis for offshore wind pause.
RE
Responsible Offshore Development Alliance (RODA)
Fishing industry coalition
Status: Legal challenger to offshore wind projects
Fishing groups opposing offshore wind on environmental and economic grounds.
EQ
Equinor ASA
Norwegian offshore wind developer
Status: Empire Wind construction resumed after January 15 preliminary injunction from Trump-appointed judge
Norwegian state-owned energy giant developing Empire Wind 1 off New York.
Timeline
Ørsted Records $10M Impairment from Suspension
Financial
Revolution Wind developer reports Q4 impairment charge due to Trump administration's now-overturned construction halt.
Sunrise Wind Resumes Construction After Injunction
Industry
Fifth and final halted project restarts work following U.S. District Court preliminary injunction; all five projects now cleared by federal courts.
Sunrise Wind Wins Preliminary Injunction
Legal
U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth grants fifth consecutive injunction against Interior's December pause, ruling suspension 'arbitrary and capricious'; all five projects now cleared to resume amid ongoing litigation.
Vineyard Wind Wins Preliminary Injunction
Legal
U.S. District Judge Brian E. Murphy grants injunction, ruling Interior 'failed to provide a reasonable explanation' for construction halt. America's first large-scale offshore wind farm (95% complete, already generating power) becomes fourth project cleared to resume work. All four victorious projects have now restarted construction.
Construction Resumes on All Four Projects
Industry
Dominion, Equinor, and Ørsted confirm construction has restarted on Coastal Virginia, Empire Wind, and Revolution Wind following court victories. Vessels return to work, racing to meet financing deadlines.
Bloomberg: 'Trump Is Winning Despite Court Losses'
Analysis
Analysis argues that despite four consecutive legal defeats, Trump's offshore wind opposition is succeeding by freezing new permits and lease sales, terrifying investors, and cutting projected 2040 U.S. offshore wind capacity from 46 GW to 6.1 GW.
Coastal Virginia Wins Preliminary Injunction
Legal
U.S. District Judge Jamar Walker grants Dominion's request, allowing the nation's largest offshore wind project (2.6 GW, 176 turbines) to resume construction. Third court victory in five days.
Empire Wind Wins Preliminary Injunction
Legal
Trump-appointed Judge Carl J. Nichols allows 60%-complete, $5.3 billion Empire Wind to resume construction, ruling Equinor demonstrated likelihood of success on merits. Second major court defeat for Trump administration.
Vineyard Wind Files for Preliminary Injunction
Legal
America's first large-scale offshore wind farm (95% complete, already generating power) sues in Massachusetts federal court, warning it will lose specialized installation vessel access March 31. Losing $2M daily during halt.
Trump: 'We Will Not Approve Windmills'
Statement
President declares definitive opposition to offshore wind while meeting with oil industry executives, calling wind farms 'losers' as Revolution Wind court victory is announced.
New York AG Files Separate Lawsuits for Empire and Sunrise
Legal
Attorney General Letitia James files two lawsuits in D.C. District Court supporting Empire and Sunrise Wind, arguing stop-work orders are 'arbitrary and capricious' given projects underwent years of Defense Department security reviews.
Equinor and Ørsted File Federal Lawsuits
Legal
Norwegian developer Equinor sues over Empire Wind 1 halt, warning of 'likely termination' if construction can't resume by January 16 due to vessel scheduling. Danish giant Ørsted files parallel lawsuit over Revolution Wind and Sunrise Wind freeze.
Sunrise Wind Files Preliminary Injunction Request
Legal
Ørsted's 45%-complete Sunrise Wind files in D.C. District Court, warning project scheduled to generate power October 2026. Fifth and final halted project now in federal litigation.
Connecticut and Rhode Island File Joint Injunction Request
Legal
Two states file preliminary injunction seeking to block Interior's halt on Revolution Wind, which was scheduled to begin delivering power to grid in January 2026.
Empire Wind Files Federal Lawsuit
Legal
Equinor sues in D.C. District Court, warning project faces 'likely termination' if construction doesn't resume by January 16 due to vessel scheduling constraints.
Court Schedules Emergency Hearing
Legal
U.S. District Judge Jamar Walker sets Monday, December 30 hearing on Dominion's request for temporary restraining order to resume construction.
Dominion Sues Federal Government
Legal
Dominion Energy Virginia files lawsuit in Eastern District of Virginia challenging pause as "arbitrary and capricious" and unconstitutional. Reveals $5M+ daily losses from idle vessels.
Four Governors Demand Classified Briefing
Statement
Governors of Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island send joint letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth demanding classified briefing on national security claims, calling sudden threat 'pretextual excuse' for predetermined outcome. Notably absent: Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin.
Wind Developer Stocks Crash
Market
Ørsted falls 11%, Equinor drops 1%, Dominion declines 4% as $28 billion investment hangs in balance.
Wind Developer Stocks Plunge, Then Stabilize
Market
Ørsted falls 13% before recovering slightly. Dominion drops 4%. Equinor down 1%. $28 billion hangs in balance as investors assess legal and political risks.
Senate Majority Leader Calls Pause 'Unhinged'
Statement
Chuck Schumer: "Trump's obsession with killing offshore wind projects is unhinged, irrational, and unjustified." Democratic senators declare permitting reform "dead in the water."
Interior Freezes Five Projects
Policy
Burgum orders 90-day construction pause for all East Coast offshore wind farms, citing Pentagon radar concerns.
Federal Judge Strikes Down First Wind Ban
Legal
Massachusetts federal court vacates Trump administration's wind energy permitting ban, ruling actions "arbitrary and capricious and contrary to law."
17 States Sue Over Wind Permitting Ban
Legal
Coalition led by New York AG Letitia James challenges Trump's Day One executive order halting all wind energy approvals onshore and offshore.
Senate Confirms Burgum
Government
Former North Dakota governor approved as Interior Secretary 79-18, having served as Trump's energy policy advisor.
Appeals Court Backs Vineyard Wind
Legal
Appellate court upholds ruling that fishing groups lack standing to challenge projects on environmental grounds.
Trump Vows Day-One Wind Ban
Statement
Presidential candidate promises to "end" offshore wind development immediately upon taking office.
107-meter GE Vernova blade breaks apart, littering Nantucket beaches with fiberglass. Manufacturing defect traced to Canadian plant.
Trump: 'Stop the Windmills'
Statement
Trump tells Europe to halt wind development during Scotland trip: "ruining your beautiful fields and valleys and killing your birds."
Judge Rejects Fishing Industry Challenge
Legal
Federal judge sides with BOEM and Vineyard Wind, questions economic harm claims from fishermen.
Fishing Groups Sue Vineyard Wind
Legal
RODA files lawsuits alleging whale habitat destruction and fishing ground losses. Courts later reject their standing.
Biden Sets 30 GW Goal
Policy
Administration announces target of 30 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2030, enough for 10 million homes.
Biden Approves Vineyard Wind
Policy
First large-scale U.S. offshore wind project approved: 800 megawatts to power 400,000 Massachusetts homes.
Block Island Wind Farm Opens
Industry Milestone
America's first offshore wind farm begins operation off Rhode Island—just 30 megawatts, a fraction of European scale.
Scenarios
1
Review Extends Indefinitely, Projects Die
Discussed by: NRDC, renewable energy analysts, offshore wind industry observers
The 90-day window stretches into months or years as Interior and DOD claim they need more time to assess threats. Stop-work costs—already $50 million weekly for Empire Wind, $15 million for Revolution Wind—bleed developers dry. European companies write off their American investments and redeploy capital to friendlier markets. Without new permits or lease sales, the entire U.S. offshore wind pipeline evaporates. Trump gets what he wanted without needing Congress: an industry strangled in its crib.
2
Review Concludes, Projects Resume with Conditions
Discussed by: Industry advocates, legal analysts, power grid operators
After 90 days, Interior announces turbines can proceed with new restrictions: adjusted siting to reduce radar interference, required coordination with military installations, or technology modifications. Developers absorb the delays and added costs because billions are already sunk. Construction resumes but the sector's growth trajectory is permanently damaged. Future projects face a gauntlet of new requirements that make U.S. offshore wind uncompetitive with European markets where governments actively support development.
3
Legal Challenges Force Projects to Continue
Discussed by: Environmental lawyers, state attorneys general, renewable energy legal experts
States and developers sue, arguing Interior violated the Administrative Procedure Act by reversing multi-agency approvals without genuine new evidence—especially since DOD signed off on every project during permitting. Courts issue injunctions forcing work to continue during litigation. But even if developers win in court, the uncertainty and delays have already spooked investors. The legal victory is pyrrhic: the industry survives but can't attract the capital needed to scale.
4
Congress Intervenes to Save Industry
Discussed by: Northeast Democrats, energy policy analysts
Democratic senators from Massachusetts, New York, Virginia, and other coastal states with offshore wind contracts pressure GOP moderates worried about abandoned projects in their districts. Bipartisan legislation emerges mandating Interior complete the review within 90 days and requiring clear evidence of national security harm to justify cancellation. Trump faces a choice: veto and own the job losses, or grudgingly allow some projects to proceed while claiming credit for "making them safer."
5
Courts Block Pause, Construction Resumes
Discussed by: Dominion Energy legal team, renewable energy attorneys, 17-state attorney general coalition
Judge Walker grants Dominion's temporary restraining order by month's end, forcing Interior to allow construction to continue during litigation—just as courts did with the Revolution Wind project in September and the broader wind ban in December. The industry's rapid legal mobilization and December 7 precedent ruling the first ban "arbitrary and capricious" provide a roadmap. Even if Trump appeals, injunctions keep projects alive long enough to reach completion. The national security framing proves legally insufficient without concrete classified evidence.
6
Cascade of Court Victories Forces Projects to Resume
Discussed by: Renewable energy attorneys, offshore wind industry analysts
Following Revolution Wind's January 12 win, judges grant similar injunctions for Empire Wind, Sunrise Wind, and Coastal Virginia, finding Interior failed to explain why complete construction halts were necessary rather than mitigation measures. The precedent from both the December 7 ruling against Trump's broader wind ban and Judge Lamberth's 'arbitrary and capricious' finding create legal momentum. Projects restart but remain vulnerable to appeal—and the Trump administration can still deny future permits and lease sales, choking the industry's pipeline even if these five projects survive.
7
Split Decisions: Some Projects Survive, Others Die
Discussed by: Legal analysts, energy policy experts
Revolution Wind resumes under court order but Empire Wind misses its January 16 vessel deadline and faces termination. Dominion's January 16 hearing produces a mixed ruling—construction can continue but with new radar mitigation requirements that add months of delay and hundreds of millions in costs. Vineyard Wind, already struggling with blade defects, remains halted. The outcome: a fragmented industry where some developers get partial relief while others absorb catastrophic losses, making future U.S. investment deeply uncertain.
Interior appeals all four preliminary injunctions to circuit courts, requesting stays pending appeal. If granted, construction halts resume while appellate litigation drags for months. Even if developers ultimately win, vessel delays and financing covenants could terminate projects. The administration uses appeals process as a war of attrition, betting billion-dollar companies can't sustain indefinite uncertainty.
9
Vineyard Wind and Sunrise Wind Win, All Five Resume
Discussed by: Renewable energy attorneys, offshore wind industry analysts
Following the pattern of Revolution, Empire, and Coastal Virginia, judges grant preliminary injunctions for the remaining two projects within days. All five projects resume construction by late January 2026. Interior's 90-day review expires March 22 without producing new evidence, forcing the administration to either lift suspensions permanently or admit national security claims were pretextual. The cascade of losses from Reagan, Trump, and Biden appointees makes appeals politically and legally untenable.
10
Sunrise Wind Wins, All Five Resume; No Appeals Filed
Discussed by: Renewable energy attorneys, offshore wind industry analysts
On February 2, Sunrise Wind wins preliminary injunction, matching the pattern set by the other four projects. With all five projects cleared to resume and Trump administration having filed zero appeals by late February despite five consecutive losses, developers accelerate construction to meet financing deadlines. Interior's 90-day review expires March 22 without producing new classified evidence. The legal strategy of rapid injunctions succeeds beyond expectations—but future lease sales and permits remain blocked, preventing new projects from entering the pipeline.
11
Trump Appeals After Fifth Loss, Projects Halt Again
After Sunrise Wind wins on February 2—making it five losses in five tries—the Trump administration finally appeals all five preliminary injunctions to circuit courts, requesting emergency stays pending appeal. If granted, construction halts resume while appellate litigation drags through spring and summer. Vineyard Wind loses its March 31 vessel deadline. Empire Wind's financing covenants trigger. Even if developers ultimately win on appeal, the delays kill projects through contract breaches and cost overruns rather than through legal defeat.
Historical Context
Obama Coal Regulations vs. Trump Rollback
2015-2019
What Happened
Obama's Clean Power Plan aimed to cut coal plant carbon emissions 32% by 2030. Trump's EPA repealed it in 2019, replacing it with the weaker Affordable Clean Energy rule. Environmental groups and states sued. Courts eventually struck down Trump's replacement as legally insufficient. The whipsaw left energy companies in regulatory limbo.
Outcome
Short Term
Coal industry got temporary relief but investors still fled due to market forces favoring natural gas and renewables.
Long Term
Supreme Court limited EPA's climate authority in 2022's West Virginia v. EPA, constraining future administrations regardless of party.
Why It's Relevant Today
Shows how administration reversals create investment uncertainty even when courts intervene—and how national security claims provide stronger legal footing than environmental policy disagreements.
Reagan Pulls Solar Panels from White House
1986
What Happened
Jimmy Carter installed 32 solar thermal panels on the White House roof in 1979 as a symbolic commitment to renewable energy independence after the oil crisis. Ronald Reagan had them removed in 1986 during roof repairs and never reinstalled them, shifting policy back toward fossil fuels and market-driven energy development.
Outcome
Short Term
U.S. solar industry lost federal support and momentum. Japan and Germany surged ahead in solar manufacturing and deployment.
Long Term
America ceded renewable energy leadership for decades. By the 2000s, most solar panels used in the U.S. were manufactured in Asia.
Why It's Relevant Today
Demonstrates how symbolic policy reversals can telegraph administration priorities and chill an emerging industry before it achieves scale—exactly what offshore wind developers now fear.
Europe's Offshore Wind Success
1991-present
What Happened
Denmark installed the first offshore wind farm in 1991. The UK, Germany, and Netherlands followed with stable policy frameworks, long-term subsidies, and coordinated defense ministry cooperation on radar concerns. By 2024, Europe had deployed over 30 gigawatts of offshore wind—double Biden's 2030 U.S. target.
Outcome
Short Term
European energy costs fell as offshore wind became cheaper than fossil fuels. Siemens, Vestas, and Ørsted became global industry leaders.
Long Term
Denmark now gets 55% of electricity from wind. The UK leads with 15.9 GW offshore capacity. Stable policy enabled private sector investment at scale.
Why It's Relevant Today
Proves offshore wind works when governments provide regulatory certainty. The U.S. had four years of Biden's European-style support. Trump's reversal shows how quickly policy instability can unravel an industry that needs decades of consistent backing.
