The US government plans to contest federal court decisions that granted preliminary injunctions on December 22, 2025, allowing the continuation of offshore wind projects amid ongoing lawsuits challenging stop-work orders. These injunctions permitted resumption of construction during the legal proceedings.
The US Secretary of the Interior, Doug Burgum, informed Bloomberg Television that the Department of the Interior (DOI) would appeal the decisions. He mentioned that once classified reports are shared in court, “there will be further discussion on this.”
Burgum cited national security concerns, including radar and sonar interference, as reasons for halting offshore wind construction. He also mentioned the use of autonomous drones and “submarines” in offshore wind technology as potential vulnerabilities to national defense.
The five projects impacted by the halt include Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind-Commercial, Empire Wind 1, Revolution Wind, Sunrise Wind, and Vineyard Wind 1.
On February 2, the US District Court for the District of Columbia granted a preliminary injunction for Ørsted’s Sunrise Wind project, the last of the five to receive this relief.
While Sunrise Wind is around halfway through construction, two projects are at advanced stages. Vineyard Wind 1, located off Massachusetts, had one turbine left for installation when the government paused the project. The 806 MW construction restarted after court approval and is expected to be completed by March 31, delivering full capacity electricity to the state grid soon after.
The 704 MW Revolution Wind, developed by Ørsted and Skyborn Renewables off Connecticut and Rhode Island, was approximately 87% complete and expected to begin power generation in January but was halted by the government’s order.
Dominion Energy’s Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) saw its first turbine installed immediately following a preliminary injunction. Once completed, CVOW will be the largest US offshore wind farm and among the world’s largest.
Original Story at www.offshorewind.biz