On December 22, 2025, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum paused all major offshore wind construction on the East Coast: Vineyard Wind, Revolution Wind, Sunrise Wind, Empire Wind, and Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind. These five projects, representing $28 billion in investment and enough power for millions of homes, halted 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 and resumed construction: Revolution Wind (87% complete), Empire Wind (60% complete), Coastal Virginia (70% complete), Vineyard Wind (95% complete, already generating power), 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.
35 events
Latest: February 9th, 2026 · 3 months ago
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February 2026
Ørsted Records $10M Impairment from Suspension
LatestFinancial
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.
January 2026
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.
December 2025
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."
May 2025
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.
January 2025
Senate Confirms Burgum
Government
Former North Dakota governor approved as Interior Secretary 79-18, having served as Trump's energy policy advisor.
December 2024
Appeals Court Backs Vineyard Wind
Legal
Appellate court upholds ruling that fishing groups lack standing to challenge projects on environmental grounds.
November 2024
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."
October 2023
Judge Rejects Fishing Industry Challenge
Legal
Federal judge sides with BOEM and Vineyard Wind, questions economic harm claims from fishermen.
2021-20
Fishing Groups Sue Vineyard Wind
Legal
RODA files lawsuits alleging whale habitat destruction and fishing ground losses. Courts later reject their standing.
May 2021
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.
December 2016
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.
Historical Context
3 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.
1 of 3
2015-2019
Obama Coal Regulations vs. Trump Rollback
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.
Then
Coal industry got temporary relief but investors still fled due to market forces favoring natural gas and renewables.
Now
Supreme Court limited EPA's climate authority in 2022's West Virginia v. EPA, constraining future administrations regardless of party.
Why this matters now
Shows how administration reversals create investment uncertainty even when courts intervene—and how national security claims provide stronger legal footing than environmental policy disagreements.
2 of 3
1986
Reagan Pulls Solar Panels from White House
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.
Then
U.S. solar industry lost federal support and momentum. Japan and Germany surged ahead in solar manufacturing and deployment.
Now
America ceded renewable energy leadership for decades. By the 2000s, most solar panels used in the U.S. were manufactured in Asia.
Why this matters now
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.
3 of 3
1991-present
Europe's Offshore Wind Success
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.
Then
European energy costs fell as offshore wind became cheaper than fossil fuels. Siemens, Vestas, and Ørsted became global industry leaders.
Now
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 this matters now
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.
