Revolution Wind, the 50-50 joint venture between Global Infrastructure Partners’ Skyborn Renewables and Orsted, has filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to overturn a lease suspension order issued on December 22, 2025 by the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM).
Lease Suspension Order and Legal Challenge
On December 22, 2025, BOEM directed Revolution Wind and other offshore wind projects to suspend lease activities for 90 days based on national security concerns, including potential radar interference and defense implications raised by the Department of War. This pause affects several major offshore wind installations under construction on the U.S. East Coast.
Orsted in a statement said Revolution Wind asserts that the lease suspension order violates applicable law and threatens substantial harm to the project if allowed to continue, similar to the earlier August 2025 stop-work order that was challenged in federal court. The supplemental complaint argues that litigation is necessary to protect the project’s legal rights and substantial investments.
Project Status and Permitting
Revolution Wind received federal and state permits in 2023 after more than nine years of environmental and regulatory reviews, including consultations with federal agencies such as the Department of War Military Aviation and Installation Assurance Siting Clearinghouse, the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and National Marine Fisheries Service.
The project is now approximately 87 percent complete, with all offshore foundations installed and 58 of 65 wind turbines in place. Export cable installation is finished, and both offshore substations are installed. Before the lease suspension, the project was expected to begin generating electricity as early as January 2026.
Economic and Energy Impact
Revolution Wind is designed to deliver affordable, reliable power to more than 350,000 homes in Connecticut and Rhode Island starting in 2026 under 20-year power purchase agreements. The project plays a key role in strengthening electric grid reliability in the Northeast, where growing electricity demand from data centers, artificial intelligence infrastructure, and electrification could be undermined if the project is halted.
Industry experts and grid operators warn that discontinuing Revolution Wind could lead to higher electricity costs and lower reliability for the region.
Jobs and Economic Contributions
Revolution Wind has supported thousands of American jobs across construction, operations, shipbuilding, and manufacturing sectors. The project has already contributed more than 2 million union work hours, including over 1,000 union jobs, boosting economic activity in ports and supply chains across more than 40 U.S. states.
Broader Offshore Wind Sector Tensions
The dispute over Revolution Wind reflects growing tensions in the U.S. offshore wind industry, where federal policy shifts and regulatory actions have introduced uncertainty for projects that previously secured full permitting and financing. The outcome of Revolution Wind’s legal challenge may influence how far federal agencies can intervene in late-stage offshore wind development.
A separate project, Sunrise Wind, also received a lease suspension order. Its developers are evaluating options, including further legal action and engagement with federal agencies.
What’s Next
Revolution Wind’s court filing marks a significant escalation in its efforts to overturn the lease suspension and resume operations. The motion for a preliminary injunction will ask the court to halt enforcement of the suspension order while litigation proceeds. Legal observers and industry stakeholders are watching closely, as the ruling could set a precedent affecting the future of offshore wind energy development in the United States.
BABURAJAN KIZHAKEDATH