Key Takeaways

• A federal judge has authorized Sunrise Wind to resume construction, marking all five targeted US offshore wind projects as cleared to continue.
• The projects, including Vineyard Wind and Revolution Wind, are significant for renewable energy production, expected to power hundreds of thousands of homes.
• Litigation against the Trump administration’s halt on offshore projects has led to multiple court victories for developers, challenging the justification of national security concerns.

Federal Approval for Offshore Wind Projects

A federal judge has granted Sunrise Wind the green light to resume construction, making it the final offshore wind project to receive court protection from a shutdown order. U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth issued a preliminary injunction allowing the 924-megawatt project, developed by Ørsted and Eversource, to proceed while legal challenges are ongoing. At the time of the halt, Sunrise Wind was 45% complete and is expected to power 600,000 homes in New York.

This ruling means all five offshore wind projects affected by a federal order, including Vineyard Wind, Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind, South Fork Wind, and Revolution Wind, are now allowed to continue construction. These project clearances effectively counter the federal government’s initiative to stop the growth of offshore wind energy in the U.S.

Judge Lamberth stated that stopping Sunrise Wind would cause “irreparable harm” and noted that the original suspension order was imposed without due process. Ted Kelly from the Environmental Defense Fund emphasized the need for increased affordable renewable energy and criticized the administration’s previous actions as counterproductive to renewable energy expansion.

Additional preceding court rulings have similarly favored offshore developers. In late January, a Boston judge cleared Vineyard Wind to continue construction, asserting the project’s significant likelihood of success in its legal challenges against the prior suspension order. Judges across the board have disapproved of the justification provided by the Interior Department to halt construction, calling it “arbitrary and capricious.”

The legal battles began when projects took action to challenge a December 22, 2025 suspension from the Department of the Interior amid national security claims. These claims faced skepticism in court, particularly as several companies had collaborated with government agencies for nearly a decade to secure necessary approvals and mitigate any potential risks.

Revolution Wind, nearly 87% complete, and another significant initiative, Empire Wind, over 60% complete, are also poised to contribute to the renewable energy grid significantly. These projects reflect substantial financial investments from their developers, underscoring the importance of stable support for off-shore energy development amidst fluctuating political landscapes.

Overall, the courts’ decisions signal a clear message against federal overreach and highlight the critical role that offshore wind projects play in facilitating renewable energy transitions in the U.S. The actions against the previously stalled projects are especially pivotal for addressing growing energy demands, particularly in light of recent economic pressures.

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